COLLINGULLIE-Glenfield Park's prime mover Jayden Klemke is confident he will be able to return from a knee injury in time for finals after confirming he expects to be sidelined for approximately six weeks.
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Klemke injured his meniscus in the round ten win over Griffith, and sat out last week's tight victory over Coolamon.
He will meet with his doctor in Wagga later this week, but is optimistic a cleanout of the knee will have him fully fit for a possible finals tilt with the Demons.
Klemke's absence has come at an inopportune time for the Demons, who have won five of their past six matches to move to a 6-4 record, only behind third-placed Coolamon on percentage, before Sunday's trip to Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong.
"Hopefully it's four to six weeks, but I won't know until I see him (doctor)," he said.
"I'm probably better off having a little clean out of my meniscus, which will give me four to six weeks. If I don't have surgery I'll try and put up with it.
"I'm hoping to get into Wagga by the end of the week, and hopefully he might clean me out next week.
"I'd rather have that, it catches and locks at the moment. I won't be able to play with it I'll have to get it cleaned up I reckon."
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Klemke ruptured his ACL on the same knee in his first game for SANFL club West Adelaide in 2019, and the Demons sat out last season.
There are seven regular season rounds left until finals, and the Demons' winning streak has bought them some time.
In better news Harry Radley and Dusty Rogers are expected to return to the side for the Lions clash, while Daniel Frawley is also a chance after a long absence with a knee and hamstring issue.
"The boys have kicked into gear now. We've got five coming back this week potentially, which will make a big difference," Klemke said.
"It's amazing what a bit of heart can do for a team and we're all local boys that get along well."
The Demons only trailed the Lions, who are flying in second place with a 9-1 record, by three points at half-time at Collingullie earlier this year, before the visitors dominated the second half.
"We pushed them for a half the first game with a few out, if the boys keep doing what they're doing they're going to shake a few trees," Klemke said.
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