Midfielder Jaeger O’Meara will make his long-awaited return to the football field in today’s round 14 NEAFL clash against Southport.

After not being named in the initial team on Friday, the SUNS notified Southport this morning that O'Meara would play, with coach Rodney Eade confirming the West Australian would play a half of footy against the Sharks, keen to lace up the boots for the first time in nearly 15 months.

“He’s woken up this morning feeling 100 per cent so it’s his call...he’ll be playing and we’ll give him half a game of footy,” Eade told SUNS TV on Saturday morning at Metricon Stadium.

O’Meara ruptured his patella tendon in a NEAFL practice match against Brisbane on April 4, 2015 and has undergone a strenuous rehabilitation period to get himself back to peak fitness.

Eade said expectations on the 22-year-old were minimal; a successful return would simply be O’Meara getting through the game unscathed and taking another step forward as he eyes off an AFL return later in the season.

“I think it’s mainly just get through,” he said.

“As I’ve said he’ll just play half a game and it’s just a matter of running around and getting used to being involved in footy again.

“If he gets possessions that’s great, but if he ends up with no possessions it’s not going to be a big issue. It’s about him getting used to the match style and be able to feel comfortable with that.

“It’s just a small step going forward for him.”