The Canberra Raiders are poised to have a full-strength squad for their final trial match next weekend, lock Shaun Fensom cleared on Friday to make his comeback from a ruptured knee.
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Fensom and representative prop David Shillington (pectoral muscle) both suffered season-ending injuries in August last year, but the pair have been given the green light to resume playing.
Fensom has stunned Raiders medical staff with his six-month recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, which can take up to nine months of rehabilitation.
The Raiders initially thought Fensom would be unavailable for the first month of the NRL season and, despite his rapid progress, were planning to take a cautious approach by bringing him back for the NRL season-opener against the Cronulla Sharks on March 8.
But Fensom's specialist has advised the 26-year-old he could benefit physically and mentally from a short stint in the February 21 trial against the Newcastle Knights at Seiffert Oval.
"He's put in a lot of hard work, but we're not rushing him back," Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said. "He's been medically cleared by the specialist, we're most definitely not putting him at any risk. It's the character of the player, he's a real leader in regards to his actions.
"At this stage the specialist advised him to play the last 15-20 minutes of the game just to get some confidence and get some game time. With the rehabilitation he's done and the medical advice we've got, we're confident he'll be available round one."
The Raiders have all players fit and available for selection, Stuart crediting the performance of the club's medical and high-performance teams.
The Raiders intend to unveil recruits Blake Austin, Sia Soliola, Frank-Paul Nu'uasala and Josh Hodgson for the first time in the Seiffert trial, Stuart stating the importance of the pre-season match.
"It's probably the most focused I've been on an NRL trial match in my last six seasons in the NRL because of the competition we have for positions. Usually I've wanted to save some players in certain positions because there wasn't the depth."
Halfback and a vacant outside back spot remain the most contentious positions, but Stuart has told his players he wants the competition for spots to remain alive all year.
"It's not just about picking a team for round one, it's about keeping the same competitive environment for the season. I've got a great respect for the culture the players are building with the way they're training and challenging each other daily."
