AFTER two games back in Hawthorn colours, small forward Michael Osborne says his knee feels strong after undergoing two surgeries last year.

The 30-year-old admits his road to recovery suffered hiccups but was confident his rehabilitation had him well placed to impact on 2013.

“The knee feels really strong, all the work we’ve done over summer has given me a lot of confidence with it,” Osborne told Crocmedia’s Sportsday.

“It’s been pulling up great after the last few games I’ve played. The body’s pulled up really well.”

Osborne was delisted last season before being re-drafted to the club with pick 70 after his season-ending injury in round 7.

“There were a few hiccups. I had a bit of excess swelling after surgery” he said.

“I had my lateral ligament and ACL fixed up. I suppose with the two operations, it was a bit more than what some of the other boys have gone through.

“I took it whatever the knee allowed me to do at the time. There wasn’t really a timeframe put in place. We just went along and tried not to rush it.”

He is set to feature prominently in the coming weeks with livewire Cyril Rioli ruled out for at least six weeks, until Hawthorn’s mid-season bye.

“We play similar roles but Cyril seems to do it better than me and anyone else,” he said.