Brisbane Lions superstar Lachie Neale is set to start as substitute in the AFL grand final against Geelong.
Neale injured his calf against the Cats in the qualifying final on September 5 - and was tipped to need a four-to-six week layoff for the injury.
However, the 32-year-old has been selected to play in the Lions team that will run out at the MCG today - only 22 days since he suffered the fitness issue.
Recent substitute Bruce Reville is expected to get an opportunity in the starting 22, with Neale likely to be injected later in the game as a wildcard.
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In an interview on Friday, Neale revealed he thought his season was definitely over when the injury was first suffered.
"I look like a bit of a goose," Neale said.
"I put an Instagram post up saying my season was done, and poor me, and now it looks a bit silly.
"It's been a little bit of a roller-coaster, emotionally.
"The last couple of weeks, I've just tried to focus on my rehab and sort of home in on that and support the boys through a couple of really good finals where they've performed so well.
"Really proud of the guys to get in this position."
Neale is hugely important to the Lions midfield mix as their main extractor, but the team coped well without him since his injury, overcoming Gold Coast and Collingwood without their star player.
Substitutes for both teams will be announced 60 minutes before the first bounce at 1:30pm - the same time Snoop Dogg is set to take the stage.