Demons senior coach Simon Goodwin has provided an update on injured premiership-winning duo Clayton Oliver and Harrison Petty.
Despite appearing likely to partake in Melbourne's King's Birthday bout with Collingwood, Oliver was ruled out the day before after he was hospitalised with a nasty infection.
Petty, meanwhile, is still recovering from a foot ailment he suffered against Hawthorn in Round 9.
Addressing the media on Monday, Goodwin provided an update on the duo's progress toward returns.
"[Oliver is] progressing well, we're hopeful. Both he and Harrison Petty have a couple of important sessions to go," said Goodwin.
"We need to make sure they train well today and hopefully again on Wednesday.
"Obviously spending five days in hospital isn't ideal so making sure he's (Oliver) got the load required, he's training to the level and he's ready to go. It's really about [the] performance of both of them."
Despite Oliver's supreme importance to Melbourne's premiership cause, Goodwin stated that the Demons "won't take any risk with any player".
Oliver's potential addition to the side will be made clear earlier in the week rather than later, according to Goodwin.
"I think we'll know once we get through today's session and see how he pulls up tomorrow," Goodwin continued.
The Demons are preparing to battle the Patrick Dangerfield-less Cats at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday night, with Geelong looking to bounce back after the weekend's defeat to Port Adelaide.