North midfielder Nick Dal Santo admits he feels “helpless” not being able to run out and contribute on the field, but is confident of resuming full training in about two weeks.

The 31-year-old tore his left hamstring in the third quarter of the Roos’ round two win over the Brisbane Lions and had surgery six weeks ago.

Dal Santo said his extensive training schedule is tracking as planned, comparing his rehabilitation program to a solid pre-season campaign.

“(I) haven’t had any major setbacks at this stage which is promising,” Dal Santo told NMFC.com.au on Thursday.

“It feels like I’m doing pre-season again with a lot of off-leg sessions, monitored running, monitored skills and hopefully I’ll be back with the boys in the next couple of weeks.”

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Dal Santo began slow jogging a fortnight after surgery and is continuing to build up his large running component.

“I did a big block of endurance stuff to make sure I was able to get a bit of distance in the legs and now it’s (about) getting more power and agility – that’s the priority,” he said.

Dal Santo combines the running aspect with general weight training and specific hamstring strengthening exercises.

With rehab taking up much of his weekday routine, the 185cm on-baller hasn’t been required to participate in team meetings throughout the week.

“The meetings aren’t as important when you’re injured, which obviously is a huge part when you are playing … but I substitute it with various other things to fill in my day,” he said.

Dal Santo acknowledged the frustration of watching his teammates play without him being able to stamp his 287 games’ experience on the field.

“I feel helpless; I really want to be a part of it,” he said.

“Even during the losses, you prefer to be out there with the boys than sitting there on the sideline and watching.”

But the veteran said his prolonged injury absence has given him the chance to sit in the coaches’ box for the first time in his career, where he’s developed a greater appreciation for the job Brad Scott and his team do.

“(I) loved it [being in the coaches’ box], actually more than I thought I would,” he said.

“The one bit I’ve really enjoyed is watching the coaches put a plan in during the week and then watching the boys attempt to execute it on the weekend, and then the strategy that’s involved in that and the opposition tactics.”

Dal Santo likes the coaching environment so much that he hasn’t ruled out pursuing a role in the caper when his playing career comes to an end.

“There are parts of coaching that I’d love to be a part of and being in the box for the past month, I’ve enjoyed that different side of it,” he said.

“It’s something I’d at least like to look into post-footy, whenever that is.”