Aaron Sandilands believes he and Jon Griffin can successfully play in the same team when he returns from injury.

The three-time All Australian ruckman is out with a long-term hamstring injury, with his return date listed as 6-10 weeks away on the club’s HBF injury update.

Griffin has filled in admirably in Sandilands’ absence, taking on West Coast champion Dean Cox and rising Bulldogs’ big man Will Minson in the first two rounds.

Sandilands and Griffin have only appeared in the same Freo team on three occasions, all in 2012.

One of those games was round 11 against Richmond at the MCG where Sandilands was injured in the early minutes and Griffin helped Freo to a memorable win.

Sandilands acknowledged Griffin’s great form this season, but he was confident there was a way for it to work when he returned.

“’Griff’ is the man at the moment, so for it to work, one of us is going to have to spend some time forward," he said.

“I’m pretty confident we can do that.”

Sandilands said the plan going into 2013 was to play both ruckmen.

“Ross (Lyon) had indicated in the pre-season we were going to do that, but I hurt myself,” he said.

“Once I get back out there, we’ll give it a crack.”

‘Sandi’ added that his hamstring surgery had gone well and his strength was beginning to return.

He admitted being on the sidelines for large periods of the past two years had been difficult.

“It’s been extremely frustrating,” he said.

“You do all the hard work to get out there and play, and I’ve missed a fair chunk of footy.

“It makes you more hungry and it makes you realise how much you miss the game and how much you want to be a part of it.”

The 30-year-old is a Starlight Purple Haze Ambassador.

He’ll miss his first Purple Haze game in almost a decade, but that won’t stop him from being there on Friday night against Essendon.

"Starlight is an awesome charity and I can’t wait to see all the people bring their purple along,” he said.

“We’ll be shaking the tins and, hopefully, we can raise a bit of money.

The Starlight Children’s Foundation aims to help improve the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children.

To date, the club has raised more than $430,000, including a record total of $80, 101.60 in 2012.