To some players, it’s just all part of the routine.

Sunday is recovery, Monday is a loosener, Wednesday is the most testing session of the week and Friday is the captain’s run. Saturday, well, that’s game day.

For others, on the periphery, it can often mean a little more; especially for those who have endured extended stints in rehab. It doesn’t matter whether you’re premiership midfielder Mark Hutchings, developing young tall Callum Jamieson, small defender Ben Johnson, exciting forward Jarrod Cameron or mature-aged rookie Nic Reid it’s exciting to be a part of main training.

All of them have been slowly building towards being a part of the main group and doubtless they feel more a part of the exercise when they are engaged in main training.

Each of them has worn a carefully constructed path and with the exception of Hutchings will play scrimmage on Friday against Gold Coast – unless of course they are elevated to the highest level. And that goal is burned into the minds of each of them.

Coming off a knee injury, Hutchings is making strong progress after a frustrating run and could be available for action in the next 3-4 weeks.

At main training today virtually every member of the squad was engaged in some respect and the match committee locked themselves away, to consider the composition of the team knowing there is no shortage of options.

No sooner had the travelling party returned to the High Performance Centre at Royal Pines and the coaches met to advance discussions already had around the best way and the best team to snap a three-game losing streak in Queensland.

The Eagles have been soundly beaten by Gold Coast, Brisbane and Port Adelaide and now confront Sydney at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.