Kuwarna forward Callum Ah Chee is putting his hand up for a return to the AFL side against Hawthorn on Thursday night, having missed the past eight weeks with a hamstring injury. 

The 28-year-old was cleared from the Club’s injury list a fortnight ago, and made a successful return to play in the SANFL against Sturt on Saturday, May 9.

Despite getting through the game, Ah Chee did not feature in the AFL team’s victory against North Melbourne on Saturday afternoon, as the Club looked to carefully manage his return to the highest level.

He also did not get a chance to play another SANFL game, with the competition having a league-wide bye due to the state game.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Ah Chee said he was feeling confident in his body ahead of the team’s trip to Launceston.

“I’ve got to see how training goes this week, and I'll put my hand up. I obviously had a good body of work put in over rehab in the last couple of weeks, and got to play SANFL as well,” Ah Chee said.

“I’m looking forward to training with boys and putting my hand up this week, it would probably be nice to get another SANFL game in, but we had a really good training session on Friday with the boys, and I got a lot out of that.

“So I’m confident in the body of work I’ve put in to get to this point.”

He also went in depth on just how rigorously he had tested the hamstring and the overall confidence he had in his body.

“I’m in a really confident space with it at the moment,” Ah Chee said. 

“I got to go out and play a SANFL game and really test it, which I was really happy with, and had some efforts in the SANFL, which did really test it out, and similar to, you know, how I would do it in the AFL.

“That gives me a lot of confidence, and my body's feeling really good. Doing the session on Friday gave a little bit more of a break than what the AFL guys have had between their games as well.”

Being unable to play in an AFL match since Round Two, Ah Chee has battled internal frustration in not being out on the park and contributing to his new team.

He explained how he has dealt with the mental challenges of being on the sidelines. 

“Yeah, from an individual point of view, it's been frustrating. Obviously, I wanted to come here and show what I'm capable of, and I sort of felt like I've been a little bit up and down with the hamstrings” Ah Chee said.

“I think it's been awesome to watch the boys go about it still, and still be a part of it that way.

“I would have loved to be down the path a bit further (with the new team), but I'm looking forward to getting back out there now and putting all that behind me.”

If he does return this week, Ah Chee will get an opportunity to feature in his first Sir Doug Nicholls Round match for Kuwarna, and don the guernsey designed by teammate Wayne Milera.

“I love playing this round, and just to see the boys go about on the weekend, and the build up too here in Adelaide was really special to be a part of,” Ah Chee said. 

“It's a really special round for me and all the indigenous people and all the past indigenous players as well, so, if I get my opportunity this week, I'd love to don the Guernsey.” 

Kuwarna takes on Hawthorn at UTAS Stadium in Launceston on Thursday night, with the match beginning at 7pm (ACST).

Fans can watch the game live on Channel 7 Adelaide and Fox Footy/Kayo.