North Melbourne defender Majak Daw has escaped a potential season-ending injury after scans revealed his torn pectoral muscle would not require surgery.
Daw, who has won over many admirers in his return to football, sustained the injury last Friday during a weights session and initial fears were he could miss a second successive year of football.
"I was in the gym doing some dumbbell press," Daw said. "I did the first set and it was fine. I did the first and second rep, and on the third rep I just felt something rip.
"I dropped the dumbbell and was in a bit of shock. It was pretty painful."
But on Monday, after having his chest scanned, Daw returned to the club and confirmed the positive news.
"They are saying it's about three weeks until I can play," he said. "But I'm going to obviously try really hard and push myself to get back quicker.
"It's pretty well known I haven't played footy in a long time, and I just miss footy. It's a new injury. It's a new challenge, but the hunger's still there to come back and play AFL footy."
North Melbourne face GWS at Giants Stadium in the AFL's return round on June 14.