Melbourne's star recruits Tom Scully and Jack Trengove are already in the mix to play in round one when the AFL season gets underway next month.

Demons coach Dean Bailey said the pair, who will make their debut for the club in the NAB Cup match against Fremantle at Subiaco on Sunday, are set to play significant game time this season.

"As round one slowly approaches I think any player would like to think they're going to play the opening round," Bailey said.

"And if we can manage their progress over the next four or five weeks through games etc, then I'm sure they'll be in the mix for round one.

"But that's a long way off yet, we've still got four practice games to go.

"They are young men with great expectations but we've got to make sure we manage them in the right way so that when they do start playing they've got some longevity in the game.

"The first year of all players is very challenging and we've just got to make sure we look after them and unload them when we have to from a management point of view," he said.

"But they like the challenge, they want to go out there and play and we expect them to go out and contribute."

Youngsters James Strauss and Jack Fitzpatrick have also been selected to make their debuts with the club, along with former Brisbane Lion Joel Macdonald.

Acrobatic forward Liam Jurrah is also poised to play a major role this season but Bailey warned the midfield needed to do a better job if the forwards were to perform their best.

"Liam Jurrah has played nine games. What he did was very good and certainly showed where he's going to be in years to come.

"But he's going to need help in the forward line. I think LJ has certainly done more training this year than last year because he really came off a low base last year," Bailey said.

"But one forward doesn't make a forward line - and one of the things we've got to do is get the ball inside 50 metres more and make our forwards' job a little bit easier.

"The last two years it's been very very difficult to play in the forward line," he said.

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