Pendergast has been floored since suffering an infection in his knee a fortnight ago, with the Panther midfielder saying yesterday he was waiting on the results of tests.

He will remain on antibiotics for another six weeks.

“My knee is still sore but I got out of hospital last Friday and I’m feeling better,” Pendergast said.

“I feel like I’m heading in the right direction again.

“It’s been frustrating, but worse things can happen.

“They reckon if I was an older person I would have been severely crook so it’s lucky I’m half fit.”

Pendergast fell ill days after the Ovens and Murray’s interleague bye and has been on a roller-coaster ride since before undergoing surgery on his knee late last week.

“It could have been something as simple as a little cut after slipping on the ground and getting some bacteria in it or a hair follicle that’s created something where some bacteria set up camp,” he said.

“Whatever it was it must have set up a fair campsite.

“I’m seeing the specialist on Thursday to find out exactly what it was.

“That will determine how long I’ll be out for.

“We’ll mark out a mud map and I’ll ask the hard question about when I can starting running again.”

Pendergast was thrilled with Lavington’s 45-point win over Yarrawonga last Saturday but warned the young Panthers would need to bring the same work ethic to the table to beat Corowa-Rutherglen at Lavington Oval this weekend.

Kade Stevens (calf), Sam Harris (ankle), Adam Prior (knee), Mitch Palmer (concussion) and Myles Aalbers (ankle) missed the clash, with Stevens and Palmer the only chances of returning this week.

“The boys were fantastic,” Pendergast said.

“Sometimes you wonder how the young blokes will go in big games like that, but they took the game on and did a great job.

“A lot of players stepped up.

“The important thing is that we back it up as Corowa-Rutherglen is playing good footy at the moment.”

Panthers recruit Justin Koschitzke will be another omission after he injured his quad against Yarrawonga.