THIS is the sight long-suffering Dragons fans have been waiting for: Mark Gasnier back on a football field. After 4½ months on the sidelines, Gasnier is preparing for a return to football, possibly for the round-19 away encounter against fellow finals hopefuls Penrith.

Failing that, the Test three-quarter is rated a strong chance of returning for the clash against the Bulldogs the following week.

The Dragons have been without injured Ben Hornby, Wes Naiqama, Mathew Head, Simon Woolford, Dean Young, Ashton Sims and Brett Morris for most of the season.

Gasnier, who ruptured his pectoral muscle in a pre-season hit-out against South Sydney, is excited about the prospect of a return several weeks ahead of schedule.

"It puts a bit of excitement back into training," he said. "Now that I can see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel, I'm starting to get excited.

"I'm putting my mind to getting back as quickly and as safely as I can. I'm not getting too far ahead of myself, because in a perfect world I'll be back [in five weeks] but things don't always work out like that.

"I'm going to continue with my rehab and if it continues to progress the way it is, I'll start to get excited.

"If you ask me in four weeks and I haven't had a setback and I'm lifting heavy weights, I'll be really excited."

Gasnier, 25, is on a restricted weights program and went for his first run 12 days ago. The Dragons medical staff have cleared him to participate in most training drills.

"I'd say I'm at about 70 or 80 per cent running speed," he said. "I've started passing and kicking, but I can't do anything that can make me vulnerable or put me in danger."

Gasnier, the best centre in the game but groomed as a five-eighth, said he would be happy to slot back into the team wherever coach Nathan Brown saw fit.

"I'm just happy to get a football in my hand," he said.