Joint-coach Michael Searl is expected to miss the early part of the campaign as he struggles to overcome knee surgery following the Tigers' 2015 Central Highlands Football League triumph.

The former North Ballarat Roosters captain told The Courier it is hard to gauge when he will play his first game of the year until he is able to run again.

Searl said it had been 12 weeks since the clean-out procedure on his right knee.

"I'm not running at all yet and I don't know when I will run," Searl said.

Searl, who is assisted at the helm by Nick Couch this year, said he had been hobbling and limping around at training, but hoped to commence work on the bike in the near future.

Gun midfielder/forward Billy Driscoll is recovering from a wrist reconstruction and is not likely to feature for the early rounds.

"He thought he was going to miss the first six," Searl said.

And perhaps the Tigers' biggest name – spearhead Paul McMahon - is no certainty to be right for the season-opener against Dunnstown as the quadriceps injury that plagued his 2015 finals series lingers.

McMahon missed both of Springbank's semi and preliminary final wins because of the injury before returning to the side for the grand final triumph against Gordon.

Searl said McMahon "did a number on himself" in the decider and was only doing some kicking drills as the injury continues to heal.

Springbank takes on five of last season’s finalists in the opening seven rounds of the 2016 season.