Gloucester are hoping their influential centre Mike Tindall can make a return to action against Munster in Saturday's sell-out Heineken Cup quarter-final at Kingsholm.
The 29-year-old England star was badly injured in his side's Six Nations opener against Wales at Twickenham and hasn't played since that game in the first week of February.
Tindall tore his liver, punctured a lung and suffered internal bleeding when he landed on Wales full back Lee Byrne's boot. He spend three days in intensive care and there were fears he may never play again.
But now he is back to full fitness and poised to return in one of the biggest club games in Gloucester's history.
"Mike couldn't do anything for the first six or seven weeks after the injury, but in the past two weeks he has been able to do some physical stuff," said Gloucester's director of rugby Dean Ryan.
"Those first few days after the injury were pretty serious and worrying. Once we got over the first week, the difficult thing was judging how long he would be out for because it was such an unusual injury - would he play again, would it be a year, would it be six weeks?
"We will wait right up until the final minute to see if it's possible for him to play against Munster. He is one of those players who can add value to our side through his experience.
"He has been out running with us and there is a possibility he could play. We always knew there was a chance he might be fit around this game, but we have to do what is best for Mike.
"There is no doubt that we miss Mike when he is not playing because, in terms of his maturity and experience, he is significantly further on than the rest of the group. If he does play, he won't be at his fittest, but I still think he would add value."
