Recovering drug addict Ben Cousins is likely to return to the football field with Victorian Football League side Port Melbourne.

It's believed Cousins will announce the deal with Port Melbourne, which will be his first step towards an AFL comeback next year, on the Nine Network's AFL Footy Show on Thursday, the Herald Sun newspaper has reported.

Cousins, a Brownlow medallist and former West Coast Eagles captain, was deregistered by the AFL for 12 months, preventing him from playing in the competition, following revelations about his addiction to methamphetamine.

But the deregistration does not prevent him from playing in a state league.

Cousins is expected to register to play in the VFL before next Monday's deadline.

Under AFL rules, he is unable to play for the Geelong and Collingwood teams because these are effectively seconds teams for the AFL powerhouses.

But that leaves 10 VFL clubs in the running, including Tasmania.

Meanwhile, Fairfax newspapers reported that Cousins may have to undergo drug rehabilitation in order to return to the game.

He must consult and co-operate with the AFL's chief medical officer on a drug rehab program and testing protocols, and could be asked to undergo rehab in the next six months, the newspaper said.

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