Castles injured his AC joint two rounds ago against Kiewa-Sandy Creek and missed the clash against Mitta United the following week.

He suffered the injury after landing awkwardly when being tackled.

Castles met with his surgeon last week and has opted to try and play again this weekend.

"The surgeon said I could try and get away without having surgery," Castles said.

"So at this stage I'm going to try and play this week.

"The shoulder is sore but once I get it strapped it feels a lot better.

"I'm going to train on Tuesday night and will get a cortisone injection before Saturday and see how I go.

"The surgeon basically said if you can handle the pain, you may as well play.

"If it is no good at the end of the season I can always have the surgery then."

IN OTHER NEWS:

Castles has booted 68 goals and said the lure of kicking 100 goals for the fourth time in his career was too hard to ignore.

"I still haven't given up hope of kicking 100 this season," he said.

"In the back of my mind I was resigned to the fact that my season was over.

"I couldn't believe it when the surgeon said you can keep playing if you want to."

Remarkably, Castles has only previously missed one week due to injury during his career which spans more than a decade.

Castles is enjoying another outstanding season.

He is averaging over six goals per match and remains on track to kick a century for the fourth time in his career.

The prolific goalkicker previously reached the milestone for the Roos in 2015 (108) and 2017 (111).

Castles also booted 111 goals for Jindera last year.

He would fancy his chances of kicking a bag against the Wodonga Saints after booting nine when the sides met earlier this season.

Chiltern co-coach Ricky Whitehead has booted 80 goals and looks to have a stranglehold on the goalkicking title.

Whitehead could crack the century this month with the Swans facing Dederang-Mount Beauty, Rutherglen and Beechworth.

After a general bye last weekend, Kiewa-Sandy Creek and Tallangatta clash in the match of the round on Saturday.

The pair will be looking for a psychological edge as they look likely to meet again in the elimination final.

The Hawks look set to regain prized recruit Michael Thompson.

Thompson missed the previous round against Thurgoona with a shoulder complaint.

The Hawks will be looking to rebound from one of their heftiest defeats in recent seasons after getting thumped by 94 points against Thurgoona.