“WORDS can’t explain” how eager Mitch McGovern is to return to the playing field.

And he believes he’ll reap full reward from the past seven weeks.

Having returned from a modified training program for Round 1, McGovern viewed the recent layoff as a chance to play catch-up in returning to full fitness.

Swapping up his trainer partner over the course of the program, McGovern believed he was feeling the benefits on the eve of a return to Ikon Park.

“It’s a great opportunity for people like myself to get ahead in that area, or catch up. I was a bit behind last year and early on in my career,” McGovern said.

“To get the opportunity now and time in the legs where it’s predominantly all running and minimal footy contact, I think it has helped a truckload.”

The 25-year-old admitted that there was a sense of the unknown heading into tomorrow’s session, but he said the playing group had full faith in the football staff of the Club.

One thing that’s undoubtable is the need for McGovern and his fellow forwards to step up in the absence of Charlie Curnow.

He said the opportunity to jell even more as a forward group would be a key focus.

“We’ll be missing Charlie because he’s a huge asset and an unbelievable player for us: we can’t wait to get him up and running,” he said.

“We’re a unit: all six of us forwards pull our part and do what we have to do to get the job done.

“Harry McKay, Levi Casboult, myself and Jack Silvagni will try to pull our weight where we can.”

As for when full-contact training resumes, McGovern echoed the sentiments of West Coast’s Adam Simpson when saying some players may have to be ‘held back’.

He had one teammate come to mind instantly.

“I really do [agree]. We’ve got Ed Curnow in our side who’s a bit of a bull at a gate,” he said.

“When he gets an opportunity to hit someone or go for a tackle, he doesn’t stop. Someone like him, we’ve got to keep a close eye on.”