Harley Bennell is within a week of recommencing training with the main group, according to senior coach Ross Lyon.

The 24-year-old midfielder, who missed the 2016 season with a calf injury, has continued to progress despite taking a two day break after receiving specialist treatment at Fremantle hospital on Tuesday.

“(Harley’s) built his calves up to be able to punch out the strongest (numbers) in the club with the exercises he does in the gym,” Lyon said.

“He’s worked really hard…you’ve got to push them but sometimes they’re still in the shadows of that hard work.

“It’s a real balancing act…he was just sore so we got some treatment.

“It’s put him two days behind and away he goes, but it certainly won’t change the plan we’ve mapped out for him.” 

Lyon compared Bennell’s pre-season workload to other Fremantle players who featured in round one after an interrupted pre-season.

“To quantify it, (Bennell’s) pre-season now is the equivalent of what Lee Spurr and Shane Kersten did off some injury interruptions,” Lyon said.

“Kersten and Spurr are playing AFL footy, and (Bennell’s) pre-season is equivalent to that, so I think it puts it in pretty good context of how exciting it is for us at the minute and for Harley. 

According to Lyon, Bennell can expect to join the main training group as early as next week.

“If you come down next week I’d imagine you’ll see him training with the group,” Lyon said.

“Will he do it all with the group? No, he’ll do partial training and then he’ll go out as we want to control his high-end sprints a little bit.

“But he’ll be there and that’s where he’s at.”