The crutches were only discarded on Monday.

And it wasn't so long ago he was hooked up to a 24-hour antibiotic drip.

But a recovering Matthew Leuenberger believes reclaiming the Lions' No.1 ruckman tag this season is a realistic goal.

Lions coach Michael Voss isn't so sure after the 20-year-old shed 11kg in two weeks when he contracted staph infection during his recovery from knee surgery.

"He's walking that tightrope on whether he plays again this year or next year," a concerned Voss said.

And Mitch Clark might have also have a big say in Leuenberger's plans.

Clark has surprised everyone with the ease in which he has stepped into the ruck role in the absence of not only Leuenberger but also the experienced Jamie Charman (ankle).

Even Leuenberger is a fan.

"I think he has been doing an amazing job," he told AAP.

"It was a real big ask for him to come in and ruck solo when he hasn't really done it before at senior level.

"He's been a big part of why the side is doing so well at the moment."

The Lions have cracked the top four nearing the halfway mark of the 2009 AFL season, an impressive achievement considering their injury toll which also includes key defenders Joel Patfull and Daniel Merrett.

"He is going to be hard to knock off his perch, because he has done so well," Leuenberger said of fellow WA product Clark.

"If he's No.1 and I am No.2 I can live with that but I am certainly going to be training and aiming to be the No.1.

"If it doesn't happen it won't bother me but it will make me a better player to aim for that.

"Maybe we could make a good ruck combination one day, you never know."

Leuenberger is aiming for a round 19 return.

It is a big call from a bloke who returned to Brisbane to begin his rehabilitation just days ago.

Playing AFL football seemed a long term prospect indeed when Leuenberger was hooked up to a drip at his parents' WA home recently.

After breaking down in a round three win over Sydney almost two months ago, Leuenberger underwent surgery in Brisbane then returned home to WA to recover - only to go under the knife days later due to the infection.

Following nine days in a Perth hospital, Leuenberger was then hooked up to a drip at his parents' house as his blood was constantly monitored.

Months after initially undergoing surgery, Leuenberger finally got the all clear from medical staff and flew into Brisbane on Saturday night.

He is now "ripping in" at rehabilitation as he recovers from his second serious knee injury in as many seasons.

Overall injuries have restricted the 2006 No.4 Draft pick to just 22 AFL games.

"I have tried asking people why, but I get mixed answers," Leuenberger said of his shocking injury run.

"Some say it is because my body is still growing. But I think it is more just bad luck to be honest."

Rather than asking "why", Leuenberger these days is asking "why not".

"I believe I can return this season. I can do it," he said.

"The thing is we don't really know what to expect. We would have known had it just been the knee but having had an infection too we don't know.

"It will be a learning experience for all of us."

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