Fremantle recruit and former Port Adelaide premiership player Jarrad Schofield has targeted round eight to make his Dockers debut as his recovery continues from off-season back surgery.

Schofield came off the interchange bench to help Port overcome Brisbane in last year's AFL grand final before the Perth native left for Fremantle in the off-season.

But that's where his troubles started.

Back surgery in January was supposed to have Schofield ready for round one, but further surgery was required, confining the 30-year-old to more time on the sideline.

He finally made a comeback last week, however, managing half a game for Subiaco reserves in the WAFL.

Now Schofield, who played 63 games for West Coast and 130 with Port Adelaide, is nearly ready to bring up game No.1 for the Dockers.

He knows he needs to remain patient, but Schofield has targeted the Telstra Dome clash with Essendon in three weeks as a possible return date.

"It's hard to say. If I pull up each week quite good, then we'll just keep stepping it up," he said.

"I'd like to be back playing by round eight or nine, but it could be longer, it could be shorter. It just depends on how the back and my fitness is going."

Schofield labelled going from an AFL premiership to WAFL reserves as "a bit of a fall from grace", but was thrilled just to be back on the park.

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