GEELONG premiership ruckman Brad Ottens faces another four weeks on the sidelines after a further setback in his recovery from a knee injury.

The 29-year-old damaged the medial ligament in his right knee in the round two clash against Richmond and was originally expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

But coach Mark Thompson said the club’s No. 1 ruckman was yet to run and was at least another month from resuming senior football.  

“He’s had swelling and there have been complications. At the moment he still hasn’t run, which is a worry,” Thompson said.

“We’ll try and get him running at the end of this week, or early next week, and then have to increase the intensity before training with the boys the week after.”

Thompson ruled out further surgery for Ottens, who had a minor arthroscope three weeks ago after his knee failed to respond to treatment.

“He’s definitely on the mend and he’s not far from running,” Thompson said.

While Ottens is yet to hit the training track, star onballer Gary Ablett has been running at 80 per cent but will not be risked this weekend against North Melbourne.

After missing last week’s win over the Sydney Swans with an adductor strain, the 24-year-old has been banging down medical staff’s door to prove his fitness, but Thompson said the Cats would not be swayed.

“The plan was always for two weeks and when it initially happened we gave a range (of weeks out) and two was the plan,” he said.

“Nothing has changed in our eyes. We’ve designed a rehab program to get him up to play not this week, but the following week.”

Thompson said skipper Tom Harley came through his first game of the year without a hitch and would be greatly improved by the run.