Melbourne is set to name All-Australian defender James Frawley for the job on Lance Franklin in Sunday's crucial clash with Hawthorn at the MCG.
But the 22-year-old, who was sidelined for much of the pre-season by a ruptured pectoral tendon, will need to complete the club's main training session on Friday.
"All indicators, to be honest, are that he'll probably more likely play," said coach Dean Bailey.
"But that last session being on Friday will be the final test."
"He's hit all the markers that our medical (team) want him to and our fitness (staff) have, but we'll put him through his paces tomorrow."
"There's no point taking someone in with any question marks over him."
Should Frawley fail to come up, Bailey nominated Jared Rivers and Colin Garland as options for the mercurial Franklin who kicked 2.6 in the Hawks' first-up 20-point loss to Adelaide last Saturday night.
"He's a difficult player where he plays," said Bailey of Franklin.
"He's not just a deep forward, he plays high forward, he gets up through the middle of the ground, he's got great endurance, great speed and things happen when he gets the football."
"We've got to be a little bit versatile in our thinking with him."
Bailey, who's winless as a coach from five outings against the Hawks, believes the gap between the teams is narrowing.
"Our last game last year was a very good sign," he said.
"A Hodge and Burgoyne goal in the last minutes of the game determined a 20-point loss and up 'til then I thought that both teams were evenly matched."
"The zero-five, whatever the stats are, are nice from a historical point of view, but I don't think that really tells the case when you run out on the ground and play on Sunday."
"We're very keen to get over the line and our players are ready for the challenge."