Springboks star Jesse Kriel is back training for the Yokohama Canon Eagles in time to help his side maintain their play-off push.
The 30-year-old, who last played on the 13 January, underwent surgery on this right thumb in his homeland and started back training in Yokohama on Monday.
With five games left in the regular season, Yokohama sit fifth after seven victories and four defeats.
Back-to-back World Cup winner Kriel (above - training on Tuesday) is in contention for Saturday’s away game at lowly Ricoh Black Rams in Komazawa, Tokyo.
“I’m very happy to be back here in Japan at CSP (training base) with the team,” said the former Red Hurricanes Osaka centre.
“I’ll get stuck into it and I'm very excited to contribute again. Please keep supporting us, I can’t wait to see you all the game,”
Kriel’s compatriot Faf de Klerk, 32, remains absent after undergoing minor knee surgery and the birth of his daughter Remi-Ray.
The world-renowned scrum-half said in March that he was confident of being ready to return in ‘early April’.
Following Saturday, Keisuke Sawaki’s side visit winless Kintetsu Liners in Osaka and then host Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars and unbeaten Saitama Wild Knights either side of travelling to Aichi to play Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith’s stuttering Toyota Verblitz.
Japan’s top-flight regular season concludes on 5 May with the top four sides advancing to the play-offs which take place on the 18 and 19 May in Tokyo before the final at the National Stadium in Tokyo on 26 May.
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