Vice-captain Jack Viney is likely to return this week, giving Melbourne another boost as they build mid-season AFL momentum.
The midfielder has been sidelined since round nine because of concussion symptoms.
Demons coach Simon Goodwin is confident Viney will return on Sunday against St Kilda in Alice Springs.
"He's on track to play this week," Goodwin said.
"Obviously with the protocols, it's 12 days minimum - it's very individualised and it's taken a little bit longer to work his way through.
"But everything so far that we've seen, he's tracking towards playing this week."
The injury news is mixed for the Demons, who have won five of their last six, with Charlie Spargo sidelined again.
Spargo could be out for six weeks because of a fractured shoulder blade from the weekend's win over Sydney.
He was hurt in an incident moments before Callum Mills collected him high, earning the Swans captain a one-game rough conduct suspension.
Goodwin stressed Spargo's injury was not because of Mills's high contact.
Spargo returned earlier this season from a year out with an Achilles injury.
"Shattered for Charlie - he's done so much work obviously from the Achilles to work his way back after missing 12 months," Goodwin said.
"It's pretty disappointing for Charlie because he's been such a great contributor in the last four to six weeks.
"He's been a big part of helping us in many areas of our footy team.
"He's going to be missed, but we'll get him back at the right time."
