Rhyce Shaw is well and truly sick of running endless laps of Lakeside Oval next to the SCG and ready to jump into full scale training.

For the past three months Shaw has been in rehabilitation, doing hours of running as he battled the painful effects of tendonitis in his knee.

It’s the same problem that afflicted the Club’s games record holder, Michael O’Loughlin, when he got to his late 20s.

So at least Shaw knew the Club’s medical staff were experts at handling such a chronic injury, after they successfully managed O’Loughlin’s problem and prolonged his career.

With careful management, Shaw has gradually increased his training load and says he’s back to doing 100 per cent with the boys from now on. While about half the players have this week off, Shaw is playing catch up ahead of their return next week.

“It’s been driving me insane, doing so much running after training to make up for not being able to do all the drills. I’m just sick of that and really glad to be back doing all the sessions,’’ Shaw said.

“I’ve got no problems now, touchwood… I’m pain-free after training and all I’m trying to do is catch up and hopefully that won’t take too long.’’

Shaw, 28, will probably have to take a more cautious approach to training for the rest of his career.

“I think I was my own worst enemy because I hate missing training and I do push myself a little bit too far in terms of injuries. (Club physiotherapist) Matty Cameron and the guys have been fantastic in looking after me. They really kept me on a tight leash for the past three months and the program has obviously worked because I’m pain-free now,’’ he said.

Shaw had a fantastic season in 2009. He was second in the Club’s best and fairest after being traded from Collingwood.

“When you sit back and think about where I came from it was an amazing year for me and hopefully the team can kick on this year and we can play finals and give it a real shake,’’ said Shaw, who is always one of the most vocal players at training, forever calling out and encouraging his team-mates.

After disciplinary problems at Collingwood, he has become a model citizen in Sydney. He says the move helped him mature. “It’s just the fact I’ve grown up a fair bit in my footy, and I know where I’m at as a footballer and what I have to do each week,’’ he said.

“Coming up here and not knowing anyone and really having to put my head down has helped me as a person. And I live in a house with one of the young guys, Craig Bird, so I had to mature a bit more and show him the right way because it is early days in his footy career.’’

And just to prove the point, Shaw added he’d just done a full spring clean of the house they share.