Scott Sio laughs he could be the only player in Super Rugby history to break his hand and barely miss a game.
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Especially when his ACT Brumbies teammate Folau Fainga'a missed three rounds with a strange and ongoing toe injury.
Fainga'a returned to full-training this week and is confident he'll be ready to play when Super Rugby returns next month.
It's the second piece of good news the Brumbies needed after the competition was indefinitely suspended amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
"They tease me about having pretty feet," Fainga'a said.
"I'm just trying to get the cobwebs out and back into the team.
"I'm back at full training and ready to rock-and-roll when a game is to be played."
The 24-year-old hooker's absence opened the door for Lachlan Lonergan to make his Super Rugby debut against the Waikato Chiefs in round four, while Connal McInerney has worn No.2 jersey for the past three games.
It's kept Fainga'a, an 11-capped Wallaby, ironically on his toes as he looks to fight for the starting position.
"[Lonergan and McInerney] have shown how great they are if they're called into the main squad and what they can do on the big stage.
"It's a healthy competition for myself and the team, the camaraderie we bring together is second to none.
"For us, it's about pushing each other to be better everyday, your position is never locked in and it keeps me on my toes. That's Connal's spot for the moment, Lonergan and I will have to fight hard for who is in the 23 and push for the starting position."
Sio has spent the Super Rugby shutdown in rehabilitation after injuring his hand in round six.
He's expected to miss just two weeks despite having a plate inserted in his hand to repair a broken bone. The 28-year-old prop started conditioning training this week and hopes to be ready for the new five-team derby.
"I've still got to tick a few boxes before I'm ready to play," Sio said.
"I might be the only guy to miss one game after breaking his hand in Super Rugby history, which would be pretty funny.
"Staying ready to compete has been driving us, staying ready as a group for whatever comes our way."
Rugby Australia have brought back the Western Force to complete a five-team intra-conference derby to substitute the cross-continent Super Rugby competition.
The round-robin competition is scheduled to start on the first weekend of April, with the schedule yet to be confirmed.
"It would be awesome to get some rugby under our belts," Fainga'a said.
"SANZAAR and Rugby Australia are working hard to get a competition going, so for us it's just training well and being ready for when a game is thrown at us."