Western Bulldogs midfielder Shaun Higgins will start the long road back to recovery tomorrow, aiming for full fitness ahead of the upcoming pre-season.

The 25-year-old was ruled out for the season following a fractured navicular bone in his left foot in round three.

Scans confirmed he is ready to return to work off the field, limited to a moon boot following surgery in April.

“It wasn’t obviously an ideal start to the season but I’m 12 weeks into my recovery,” Higgins told Crocmedia’s AFL Live prior to his side’s clash with Essendon on Sunday.

“I touched base with the surgeon down in the rooms, prior to coming up here (commentary box) and I’ve been given the all clear.

“The post 12 week scan, to say that I’m right to get out of the boot and start that process now of working over the next one or two months to get back into running.”

The 25-year-old, who has managed just 108 games in eight injury-plagued seasons, is hoping to be ready for an assault on the Dogs’ 2014 pre-season campaign.

“From tomorrow onwards, bikes, swimming, deep water running, leg weights all of this is actually fine,” he said.

“It’s just that impact of running which I’ve got to take slowly, it will be the six month mark (from the time of injury) which will take me roughly to the start of pre-season anyway.

“I’m not going to miss at all, any of the work. If anything I’ll get more work going into pre-season. We’re ticking off all of the boxes.”