First, he has to get through a full training session.

The power-packed hooker has been sidelined since the round-two loss to Eastwood after suffering a two centimetre tear in his calf at training.

He was close to a come back last round, but opted to err on the side of caution.

"I did a test on Saturday morning but it wasn't right," Ale said. "I didn't want to risk it and be out for another four weeks.

"I did a conditioning session on Tuesday night which definitely got rid of the cobwebs. The plan is to do the whole session Thursday and see how it holds up. If I can get it to 90 per cent by Saturday, I should be sweet."

Rather than have Ale come back through second grade, coach Scott Coleman is considering using the dynamic ball runner as a fresh reserve in the top grade.

"He could have a real impact in the last 30 minutes," Coleman said. "Phil Bradford will definitely hold his starting spot and Steve Lamont will come back in second grade after missing a week with concussion."

Melbourne recruit Declan Cox is also in the equation after strong performances on debut in second grade and off the bench in first grade against Gordon last round.

"There is good competition for the hooker spot," Ale said. "It's good for the players individually and the team. In the Newcastle competition no-one was really chasing your position."

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Chad Northcott has recovered from a slight quad strain and is likely to come in at fullback and locks Jeremy Burrill and Alec Corcoran are also "putting pressure on".

"It might be a case where we rotate some guys," Coleman said. "I'll reward those who keep training and doing well in seconds more so than waiting for someone [in first grade] to have a bad game. Guys who have played every game in first grade, bar the draw again Manly, haven't been in a good, close game. It might be time to freshen them up and give someone else an opportunity."

Ale, 30, has added incentive to get on the park on Saturday. He made his Shute Shield debut for Easts in 2016.

"You always want to test yourself against a club you represented," Ale said. "Easts were a good club. I started in fourth grade and after three games I was in first grade. My debut was in a local derby against Randwick."

Ale has done it tough on the sidelines.

"It is definitely stressful watching what the boys are going through," he said. "One week we are smashing it in the scrum, the next we are pumping in the lineout. There are all these different bits we are improving on. If we can bring it all together in an 80 minute game we can surprise a lot of teams."

Although not playing, Ale has been anything but idle.

"When you are not playing, you have to work twice as hard to get that match fitness," Ale said. "I have been trying to simulate what happens on the field. A lot of berpees, getting up and down off the ground, rope work and weights. It has been torture on the body."

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