Can I plug my Apple TV directly into my Mac Pro?

[SteelBlueTJ]

I am just wondering if I can plug my Apple TV 2 into my Mac Pro via ethernet? The Mac Pro has two Gigabit ethernet ports so I was wondering if the Apple TV would still operate correctly if I connected it this way instead of using Wifi? I would have an ethernet line coming out of the router into my Mac Pro then out of the Mac Pro into the Apple TV. Would this work? I never utilized both ethernet ports on my Mac Pro so I'm not sure it it would essentially act as in and out. My Apple TV is about 8 feet away from my Mac Pro anyway so I was just curious as it would save me from hogging up another port on my airport extreme. I know I can use it via wifi but I prefer hard wired if possible since it so close to everything anyways. Thanks