Ricciuto had surgery two-and-a-half weeks ago in what was described as 'a follow-up procedure' to surgery he had eight years ago.
"We just decided to have a little bit of a clean-up and make sure it wouldn't cause any hassles later on," Ricciuto said at Victor Harbor Oval on Tuesday during the Crows' AFL Community Camp week on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
"The injury just takes a little while to heal. They didn't stitch it up so it just takes a little bit longer than normal.
"I'm just making a bit of a comeback this week. I should up the tempo all week, and I might even be training with the boys on Friday, so everything is going according to plan and I shouldn't miss any games.
"At this stage, I will be looking to play (against Port). Obviously it will depend on how I go over the next two weeks at training, but all things are looking good at the moment."
Midfielder Ricciuto, 30, expects to spend more time as a forward this season because of the increased options Adelaide will have in the midfield.
"We will be looking to rotate more players through the midfield this year," he said. "The game is only going to get faster with a few of the rules they are bringing in. The better team you are, the more guys you are going to have rotating through there. There are certainly a few guys ready to step up.
"I've always enjoyed playing up forward. A few times I played my junior football up in the forward lines and I enjoy kicking a goal, so I would love to kick a few more this year."
Ricciuto said he had surprised himself by recording 'a couple of PBs' (personal bests) in the three-kilometre time trials during pre-season training.
"Stephen Schwerdt and Neil Craig and the other fitness coaches don't let you get any leniency the older you get, and that's probably a good thing," he said. "You can't improve too much, otherwise it means you have been mucking around the year before.
"I think you just continually look at how you can get better. You keep being more professional. Out of the nine weeks we had off after last season, seven of those we had a training program.
"You get back in better nick and then you train harder while you are here and there are better techniques of getting fitter, as well. It's a combination of all those things.
"We are very keen to get into the year after the big improvement we made last year, and we also know that is not going to guarantee us a successful season in 2006.
"What we have done over the summer is give ourselves every chance of having a successful year. There will be a bit of improvement in a fair few players this year, and hopefully we can continue to improve and push for the finals this year."
Hundreds of children attended the Crows' NAB AFL Auskick clinic at Victor Harbor Oval on Tuesday afternoon, and Adelaide players and officials later attended a civic dinner at the Hotel Victor.
"Yes, it's great to get away from West Lakes, even though we love it down there," Ricciuto said of the Crows' busy week throughout the Fleurieu Peninsula.
"To get away in the country and see the kids and supporters ... I think 20 per cent of our members are from the country, so to give them back a little bit, and come and do some coaching clinics, and visit some schools and hospitals, it should be a great week. It always has been, and it's a great initiative by the AFL."
