Ulster coach Alan Solomons will breathe a sigh of relief when Ireland and Lions second-row Jeremy Davidson takes to the pitch at Ravenhill tomorrow evening against Neath for his first competitive match in six weeks.
Davidson has been named on the Ulster bench but it is certain he will take part in the match, probably for Gary Longwell or Mark Blair early in the second half, for a 30-minute run.
Since English back-row Joe Worsley was hit by an Irish tackle and fell awkwardly onto Davidson's knee 20 minutes before the end of Ulster's triumphant home win over Wasps in the European Cup, the Dungannon player has had to watch the international side and his provincial team move steadily towards success and critical acclaim without his input.
Worsley's accident, according to Davidson's surgeon at the Ulster Clinic, tore two pieces of cartilage from his joint. It was a different injury to the knee-ligament problem he had faced before. But although he has been running for three weeks and has taken part in full contact sessions with the rest of the Ulster squad, Davidson is still determined to take a patient approach in reclaiming the position he once held as one of the most sought after locks in these islands.
"Yes, I think I will be getting about half an hour against Neath," he says. "It is exciting to be getting that run. I'm very keen. I'm very positive about it. I've been training harder than ever and I'm back to full fitness. Obviously I'm not match-fit but that will come with two or three matches under my belt.
"For the moment I just want to be one of the players who is playing well for Ulster and get back into the international set-up. The sooner I do that the better.
"There are a lot of good young players around, so firstly all I want to do is get back into the squad. I don't want to look any further than that. I have to have small objectives at the beginning but now that I'm back playing there's got to be progress."
The Ulster schedule may just benefit Davidson's rehabilitation back into the apex of competitive rugby. If the province beat Neath tomorrow they will have a Celtic League semi-final to play, another interprovincial match and a European Cup match all before early January. If the knee holds up, as he expects it to do, he will have a month to show form before Ireland meet Wales at Lansdowne Road on February 3rd.
"Yes, that's the good thing about the schedule. I hope to have two or three matches with Ulster and I'm very hopeful that will give me enough games to get back to full fitness.
"You can't predict these injuries. All you can do is train harder, be keener and stay positive. I'm encouraged that Ireland have been playing so well. I just want to be in it. It is also a good brand of rugby they are playing at the moment."
The news of Davidson's resumption should encourage even greater jockeying for places in coach Warren Gatland's second row. But a return to the form that earned him a Lions shirt in South Africa in 1997 is unlikely to generate anything other than satisfaction in that here is a young player with a world-class game at his disposal once again looking to do a job for Ireland and for Ulster.
Mick Galwey might appear the most vulnerable further down the line but the lionised Munster and Ireland elder statesman has surely an automatic survival mechanism built in at this stage.
"The fitness coach has kept me under lock and key," says Davidson. "And the surgeon has been mothering my progress all the time. He's given me the all-clear.
"The Ulster set up has also been very good. Alan (Solomons) kept me involved all the time. I've travelled to France and Galway with them. I was involved even though I was injured. Their man management was always very good."
With Davidson on the mend, Eric Miller again consistently producing big games at provincial and international level, Keith Wood continuing to lord over all hookers and Paul Wallace over his more serious injury, Ireland's South African Lions may well roar together this season.
