Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque have received a huge boast ahead of their Heineken Cup campaign with the news that French centre Damien Traille has been given the all clear to return to action.
Traille has spent five months out injured and had been a doubt for the opening rounds of Europe's premier competition.
The 31-year-old has endured a nightmare year with injuries, the latest an adductor injury, which resulted in surgery from which Traille has now recovered.
The 72-times capped French international is now possibly in line for an immediate return to action in his side's European opener against Bath on Saturday.
Traille missed two months of the beginning of the 2009/10 season with a knee injury and has not played for Biarritz since April 24 when he broke his arm.
That setback was a particularly painful one as it ruled him out of last season's European Cup Final which Biarritz lost to Toulouse.
Biarritz are facing a tricky start to this year's competition as they line up against two former European Champions in the opening two rounds.
Saturday's trip to The Rec to face 1998 winners Bath is followed by a home tie with 1999 champions Ulster on Sunday, October 17.