Western Bulldogs veteran Daniel Giansiracusa is hopeful rather than confident that Brownlow Medalist Adam Cooney and All-Australian full-back Brian Lake will return to their best in 2012.
Giansiracusa described Cooney as a week-to-week proposition with his chronic knee problems and said the club was trying not to expect too much of Lake who was hobbled by elbow, knee and hip injuries last season.
While Lake remains in rehab for at least another week, Cooney managed to complete about half of Wednesday's scratch match at Whitten Oval in a positive sign for his prospects.
"I suppose it's going to be week-at-a-time sort of stuff, but they've managed his program fantastically well and I think it's about timing with him," said Giansiracusa of Cooney.
"There's going to be times when he's inside ... and there's going to be times when he can be out here with us doing all the training."
"With a player like Adam you've got to make sure you manage him well but, from what I saw out there today, he's still got his zip and his spark."
"'Macca' (coach Brendan McCartney) had to slow him down a bit actually, so it's a good sign for us."
Asked whether Lake could return to his best in 2012, Giansiracusa said: "All lovers of football would like to see him back to his best because he was almost worth three (players) when he was at his best a couple of years ago."
"We're not putting any added pressure on him - he's just another part of the 22 that will play."
"'Macca' has brought that in from the start - we're not going to be heavily reliant on the superstars of our team."
"Obviously we want them to play good footy, but if they can do their bit within the team confines then that's all we ask of them."
At the other end of the scale, Giansiracusa said the club's crop of promising youngsters had met all expectations over the pre-season.
"The guys in their second year like Mitch (Wallis) and 'Libba' (Tom Liberatore) have gone up to a new level and 'Tutty' (Jason Tutt) got a few games late (last year) and Christian Howard," Giansiracusa said.
"(First-round draftee) Clay Smith has been pretty impressive and I think he's ready to go."
"We've got a huge amount of competition for spots but I'm sure we'll see him this year."
Skipper Matthew Boyd left the track early on Wednesday after turning an ankle, but the injury is not believed to be serious.
"There's been some willing sessions and that was another one, but we're starting to get closer to games so you would expect that," said Giansiracusa.
"I think it's just a little knock."
"Boydy's pretty tough, he doesn't miss too many games so I think that's not going to affect him too much."