FREMANTLE defender Nick Suban says his recovery from a broken leg was ahead of schedule.Suban has begun walking and hopes to be back on field in about six weeks' time.His recovery follows surgery for a broken fibula in his right leg, sustained in a collision with teammate Ryan Crowley in round four.The 21-year-old said his rehabilitation was all going well."It's still a slow process but the bone's now fully healed," Suban told The Courier."I should come back and play this year if I keep doing everything to a tee."The former North Ballarat Rebels captain has been focused on upper body training, including swimming, and water running.Suban took a chance to return home to visit family and friends in Bacchus Marsh earlier this month to mark his 21st birthday.But most of his time has been spent at the club, working to get back on field.Suban's broken leg continued a horror run of injuries for the Dockers, which included Anthony Morabito (knee) for the season, Michael Barlow (leg) and more recently Adam McPhee (knee) and ruckman Aaron Sandilands (toe).The club yesterday confirmed Barlow would make his gradual return from a broken leg this week for half a match in the WAFL reserves.Barlow's horrific break sidelined the key midfielder for 11 months.While Barlow took advice from former Richmond and Western Bulldogs forward Nathan Brown not to rush his return, Suban said his own recovery, and break, had been a lot less complicated. Barlow said he was limiting his expectations about a return to senior football and would not be the answer to Fremantle's problems following a disappointing 46-point loss to St Kilda. Former North Ballarat Rebel Tim Ruffles remains on the Dockers' injury list with a knee injury and is expected to return in about four weeks.Ruffles was delisted by the club at the end of last season and picked up again in the AFL rookie draft.