Wednesday 17 May 2017 08:48, UK
Sonny Bill Williams and Lima Sopoaga will return to Super Rugby action this week ahead of New Zealand naming their squad to face the British and Irish Lions.
The All Blacks head into the three-Test series with a number of injury worries, but centre Williams and fly-half Sopoaga appear ready to take their name off the doubtful list.
Williams has been cleared of concussion symptoms and will start the Auckland Blues' clash with the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday.
Meanwhile, Sopoaga, who has been absent for eight weeks with a hamstring injury, will line up for the Highlanders against Western Force in Perth.
Highlanders coach Tony Brown also revealed on Wednesday that he expects full-back Ben Smith, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury, to play against the Waratahs next week.
There was more good news for All Blacks coach Steve Hansen from Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd, who said hooker Dane Coles and winger Nehe Milner-Skudder could also be close to returning.
Coles has been one of Hansen's chief worries, as he had been battling calf and knee injuries before being diagnosed with a concussion which has now kept him out for two months.
"Nehe is running with a change of direction," Boyd said. "He won't play this weekend but the question is whether he comes to Africa or joins us in Perth.
"Colesy is the same. He's progressing quite nicely around his (concussion) protocols on his return to play. There is no recurrence of the calf...so it has been very encouraging."
All Blacks captain Kieran Read (thumb) and fellow loose forwards Liam Squire (thumb) and Jerome Kaino (knee) are still sidelined with all three not expected back until the Lions arrive in New Zealand for their 10-match tour.
Read said last week that he may not play again before the first Test against the Lions on June 24 at Eden Park.
The 2017 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand will be broadcast live on Sky Sports from June 3.
