All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara will return to Super Rugby for the first time since 2020, when he lines up for the Hurricanes against Moana Pasifika on Friday.
Perenara, 30, is yet to feature for the Hurricanes this campaign, after suffering a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury in his knee during his side's pre-season.
The 78-test All Blacks halfback has been in contention to return for the last two weeks, only for COVID-19 to disrupt his and the Hurricanes' plans.
The Wellington side's round four clash against Moana Pasifika was postponed thanks to an outbreak in the Hurricanes' camp, before last week's match against the Chiefs was sacrificed as part of a schedule reshuffle as the Blues, Crusaders and Highlanders all battled cases.
But now preparing to finally meet Super Rugby Pacific's newcomers for the first time, Hurricanes assistant coach Chris Gibbes confirms that Perenara will feature in some capacity on Friday.
"He's one of a group of guys that have been working really hard in the background to get themselves right," assistant coach Chris Gibbes says. "It's a credit to the med-fit team and to the boys themselves, they've been really professional the way they've done it.
"Teej [Perenara], it's exciting for him to be back in the group, and he's got his part to play this weekend at some point."
But Perenara's inclusion will still be restricted by All Blacks rest orders, with Kiwi Super Rugby sides tasked with managing their internationals' game time during the early rounds of the season to keep them fresh for later in the year.
And despite the setback of not always having full access to their best players, Gibbes understands the grand scheme of things as the All Blacks prep for next year's Rugby World Cup in France.
"It's still part of the plan," Gibbes adds. "You've still got to factor all of that stuff in.
"It's not so much making it easier, it's about making sure that we're all aligned with New Zealand Rugby - and we are in a lot of areas.
"We've just got to do what's right for the player, that's key here. Anything we do, we've got to put that player at the centre."
Join Newshub for live updates of the Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika from 7pm Friday.
