Manawatu's Jackson Hemopo is preparing for a return to rugby with a Mitre 10 Cup provincial clash with Tasman on Wednesday, but there may be greater things lying in wait for the hulking flanker.
On Friday, the All Blacks depart for Argentina and South Africa, and with first-choice number six Liam Squire sidelined for the next three weeks with a hand injury, Hemopo could well find himself boarding that flight.
"I'm not too sure what the go is there," Hemopo told Newshub.
"I'm just hoping to get through the game... and then I should find out on Thursday whether I'm heading away or not.
"I'd love to get another go in the black jersey."
The 24-year-old has good reason to be cautious, still yet to prove his own fitness, after a lengthy injury break.
He was called into the All Blacks squad as injury cover during the June series against France, making his debut from the bench during the third test win in Dunedin.
But Wednesday night's fixture in Palmerston North will be Hemopo's first taste of rugby in more than a month, after suffering bone bruising and cartilage damage during the Highlander's Super Rugby quarter-final loss to the Waratahs.
Those injuries were then further compounded in the annual 'Game of Three Halves' trial in early August and he's been on the shelf ever since.
"I'm looking forward to getting out there, and getting a few tackles and ball carries, and get the ball rolling again.
"I don't enjoy watching from the sidelines, I'd rather be out there playing."
Hemopo will make his comeback from the bench for the Turbos and is wary of overdoing it given his lack of recent play.
"I haven't done too much running around since my injury and it's still not 100 percent yet.
"I'm just hoping it doesn't get any worse… hopefully, I can last 40 minutes."
While Highlanders teammate Shannon Frizell will probably be the preferred candidate to replace Squire on the side of the All Blacks scrum, Hemopo says he'd be happy simply returning to the test environment and soaking up as much knowledge as he can.
"I'm just trying to learn as much as I can at the moment when I'm amongst the squad… from Liam [Squire] and Shannon [Frizell], just so that when I do make that transition, I'm ready for it."
Newshub.
