ANTHONY Morabito will make his long-awaited return to competitive football on Saturday when he lines up for Fremantle's WAFL affiliate club Peel Thunder in a pre-season match in Mandurah.

Morabito played his last competitive match for Peel in July of 2012 before rupturing his ACL for a second time. Following a second reconstruction that season, Morabito ruptured his ACL a third time in January 2013, this time opting for LARS reconstruction.

The 22-year-old did not play at all in 2013, although he did return to training before being shut down in August to prepare for the 2014 pre-season.

After an agonising 18 months, Morabito is set to play again.

"He'll play some limited game time, but he's playing," Ross Lyon said.

"I think it's significant in that it's his first competitive game back. I'd really implore us to respect his privacy, and he'll speak at the right time.

"It will be good just to see him play and enjoy his footy. It's a significant milestone of where he wants to get to."

Morabito rose to prominence in his first season at the Dockers in 2010. He played 23 matches, including two finals, and won a NAB Rising Star nomination before injuring his knee for the first time in the 2011 pre-season.

High-profile recruit Colin Sylvia is also set to line-up for Peel on Saturday. Sylvia was a late withdrawal from the NAB Challenge clash against the Western Bulldogs last Wednesday due to a head knock he suffered at training.

Sylvia appears a long way off being considered for the Dockers again after an indifferent pre-season.

Lyon was a little concerned about his side's preparation heading into round one against Collingwood next Friday night having lost two of their three pre-season matches.

But he is confident his side will be ready.

"I've said we're going to need every minute of the pre-season," Lyon said.

"We've got another week.

"Look, at the end of the day we're a club that's coming from a month behind.

"That's the reality, and we open the season so we have lots to do and little time to do it.

"We're really excited about the challenge."