DESPITE a hamstring injury followed by a stingray attack, David Hille says he's had a worse pre-season than this one.

The 27-year-old had just missed four weeks with a hamstring injury and was set to return to training on Monday before the stingray intervened.

Moving freely at training on Friday despite Sunday's marine assault, Hille admitted to more frustration than pain at the delay of a further week before he could return to the track.

"That was the key – I was all excited to get back into training on Monday, but that's just the way it went," he said on Friday after training at the playing fields of La Trobe University in Bundoora.

"It's given my hamstring a couple more day to relax, which is probably not such a bad thing, and it's fine, it's really good."

But despite the extended layoff, Hille said he'd had worse.

"A number of years ago I had an issue with a calf, coming back from an ankle operation, so it's probably second to that.

"It's not ideal, but I don't see it as too much of a big deal – I still feel very fit and it shouldn't be a problem getting back into things once everything's alright."

The Bombers finished 12th in each of the last two years, after bottom four results in the two preceding years, but they're hoping to rise at least four places this season, Hille said.

"Everyone wants to play finals, and that's our goal, to get in the top eight to begin with, and work from there.

"Our young guys are another year older and a year more experienced and they have another pre-season under their belts, so it'll be interesting to see how they go this year.

"It's hard to get a feel from the sideline, I must admit – on the pool and on the bike it's difficult, so I'll probably find out where they're at in the next couple of weeks once I get back in there myself.

"The vibe's pretty positive, so I'm keen to get back in there."