Aliir Aliir's day has arrived.
The promising defender has been picked to play in Friday's NEAFL practice match against GWS, the 22-year-old's first competitive game of the year.
He's fully recovered from a toe injury which hampered his pre-season and put a strong training block together to convince the medical staff and coaches he's ready for the hit-out at Tom Wills Oval.
He'll be on managed game time in what is his first game since last year's Preliminary Final against Geelong where the backman strained his posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).
Expectations aren't being set too high, with NEAFL coach Rhyce Shaw aiming for quality over quantity for the senior hopeful.
"Aliir's just got to put a good game together, a consistent game, there's no reason why he shouldn't," Shaw said.
"He's been training for a while now, he's got some good touch under his belt, and now looking for a good game against a good Giants outfit.
"It's all there for him, it's up to him now whether he produces or not."
The release of the preliminary squad for Sunday's third and final JLT Community Series clash in Albury poses some interesting questions.
If first-years Ollie Florent, Darcy Cameron and Robbie Fox play that'll be three from three pre-season games for the trio while Will Hayward looks to have retained his spot after playing in red and white for the first time against GWS last weekend.
The final round of the pre-season is widely regarded as a 'final dress rehearsal' before the regular season so an extra look, against the Saints at Lavington Sports Ground, won't do their chances for an AFL debut any harm.
If they do play it'll mean Shaw will gain at least some experienced heads for the practice match at Olympic Park after the senior 27-man squad is whittled down before Sunday's lodgement.
Shaw, who's heading into his second season in charge, is looking forward to seeing most of his development squad in action, together, for the first time.
"Our squad has got younger again and it's really exciting for our club. The infiltration of younger guys have been consistent over the past couple of years and we've got to a point where they've got a few games under their belt and we're seeing a bunch of really talented guys coming through."
"It's a really good challenge, most of our guys have played, but it's the first opportunity to play as a NEAFL team. Hopefully we can put some good footy together and get one out of the way."
He's as hungry as the players to put a strong performance together ahead of the NEAFL Swans' opening round clash against Brisbane in Brisbane on April 1.
"I think every game is an opportunity, an opportunity for everyone to get better," he added.
"Practice matches, intra-clubs, or home and away games - they're always competitive and the boys will go out to win to matter. I'm not going to stifle that, I know they'll be going out there to put a good performance on the board."
