Steven May played just eight games in his first season with Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

MELBOURNE defender Steven May has suffered another setback in his preparations for round one.

The key backman has been sent for a follow-up procedure on the knee he first had operated on in early January.

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May had a cyst removed last month that required further attention and will keep him out of running for at least the next week.

It is a blow for May, who completed the bulk of pre-Christmas training and was kept in rehab through the first two weeks of January.

He returned to train alongside teammates at the club's training camp in Maroochydore over the past fortnight.

"Unfortunately, Steven had some fluid build-up within the existing wound last week which was causing him some discomfort," Demons head of football Josh Mahoney told the club's website.

"We expect Steven to be back running next week and we're confident this is only a minor hiccup."

May wasn't sighted on the training track on Monday, when star ruckman Max Gawn returned to light duties after suffering a knee injury of his own on the club's Sunshine Coast training camp.