After overcoming the most painful injury of his AFL career, Fremantle defender Michael Johnson is confident 2015 won’t be his last season at the elite level.

Johnson missed last year’s finals series after being diagnosed with a serious back issue that left him struggling to run.

The 30-year-old was in severe pain during the club’s round-23 win over Port Adelaide, with subsequent surgery ending his campaign.

Johnson recently returned to full training, and he’s on track to play in two of Fremantle’s Nab Challenge games in preparation for the season opener against the Power on April 5

The 2013 All-Australian remains one of Fremantle’s most important players, and he’s confident he’s still got several more years of good footy left in him.

“I’m 30 now, so hopefully five more years,” Johnson joked, before adding: “I’m feeling really good at the moment, off field and on field.

“The kids are keeping me on my toes.

“If I can last another four years, two years …

“I know there’s a lot of young players coming through. But if I’m playing good footy, why not keep going and deliver for Fremantle.”

Johnson was also grounded by a knee injury last season, but he said the back complaint was by far the worst injury of his 190-game career.

“I got a nice knee to the back a week before, and it just stirred my back up,” Johnson said.

“There was a bit of nerve damage that affected me against Port Adelaide.

“I got through – barely. I knew then and there I wasn’t going to play the rest of the season.

“I just felt no strength in my left leg because of the nerve. It was pretty painful.”

Fremantle’s ageing list have led some pundits to predict a slide for the 2013 grand finalists.

But Johnson says the team is confident it can remain a premiership contender this year.

“You look at Nat Fyfe, Stephen Hill, Michael Walters – all young players who can turn a game and win the game off their own boot,” Johnson said.

“I don’t like relying on the older players. They are there for experience, but everyone’s equal.”

Johnson will put on his coach’s hat next week when he assists Aaron Davey in coaching the Footy Means Business squad.

The program provides talent, leadership, and employment opportunities for 50 young Indigenous men from all over Australia.

The team will play in the curtain-raiser to West Coast’s clash with the AFL Indigenous All Stars at Leederville Oval on February 20.