AN ankle injury has sidelined Melbourne forward Sam Blease from this weekend’s second round of the NAB Cup after being tacked in the Dees’ first match of the pre-season competition.

AFL.com.au reports Blease, who struggled to recover from an ankle injury suffered back in 2009, will miss the Demons’ clash with Port Adelaide.

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"It's disappointing because he has had a very good pre-season,” says Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney.

“He has been able to build on his endurance base during the pre-season and we want to make sure he is able to maintain as much as he can during this lay-off."

Demons defender James Frawley is also likely to be rested having undergone plastic surgery to repair a “significant laceration” above his eyebrow following a head clash with Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt on Friday night.

Emerging Melbourne forward Jesse Hogan is likely to be named in the Demons’ team after a performance in the first round that impressed coach Mark Neeld.

Hogan, who is ineligible to play for the Demons in the regular season due to an age restriction, will instead play in the VFL throughout 2013.

Melbourne’s recent first round draft picks Jack Viney and Jimmy Toumpas are also expected to play in Renmark against the Power.

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