IT WOULD hardly be surprising to discover that the theme of the week out at Whitten Oval concerns a comeback, in fact several of them, rather than a rivalry.

Players important to the team are making their way back and, not least, the side which was unexpectedly humbled by Adelaide last Sunday night needs to rediscover its mojo.

As to where it is, not even Rodney Eade knows for sure.

Brian Harris is set to return to his station at full-back, Mitch Hahn is poised to simply play again and Tom Williams is emerging from two years in injury-imposed exile and, significantly, is being mentioned in selection discussions months before it was expected he would be.

Eade declared Harris, who missed the first two rounds of the season due to suspension, a certain starter against St Kilda on Saturday night.

"Obviously, they've (St Kilda) got some good quality talls and we were hurt last week in that area which, obviously, at some stage is going to catch us out. But Brian straight back in will hopefully stiffen our defence," Eade said.

Harris' fast track back into the team may provide instant relief by helping the Dogs to deal with Fraser Gehrig, Justin Koschitzke and, in all likelihood, Nick Riewoldt.

Hahn and Williams, on the other hand, are not yet in senior consideration but are generating as much enthusiasm — especially the unlucky Williams who, according to Eade, distinguished himself in the VFL last weekend.

The left foot that has required surgery on two occasions and kept Williams, one of the rarest talents in the 2004 national draft, from playing a single game, has finally healed. His apprenticeship can begin.

"He played very well on the weekend," Eade said.

"His name was mentioned today at match committee, after one game, but to be fair to Tom he needs to get through at least three or four weeks of football. His foot is going to be OK but it's about him getting some match conditioning. I think going up to another level there is a chance of injuring a calf or something like that.

"(But) how far is he away? We were thinking the back end of the season but he will definitely be before mid-season."

Hahn, something of a ute among Ferraris at Whitten Oval because of his bullocking, robust style, will play VFL reserves football on the weekend to road test the knee he had reconstructed last season.

"It will be his first game. Hopefully he'll play a half to three quarters," Eade said.

"Hopefully it will only be a couple of weeks playing for the Werribee twos and then it will be the Werribee ones and then how long it takes for him to get back in the seniors … only time will tell."