All Black star Beauden Barrett has been cleared to play for the Hurricanes in this weekend's top of the table match against the Highlanders in Napier.
Barrett is over a knee injury he suffered a month ago, though he was still only rated a 50-50 chance of returning a day ago by his coach Chris Boyd.
Hurricanes and All Blacks star Beauden Barrett Photo: Photosport
But Barrett trained fully with the Super Rugby leaders on Monday, and the Hurricanes star No.10 will now turn out on Friday.
That frees up fellow No.10 Otere Black to rejoin the Junior All Blacks in Italy for their second game of the under-20 World Championships, against Argentina on Saturday.
But Hurricanes coach Boyd's got more injury problems, with utility back Matt Proctor out this weekend against the Highlanders due to concussion, while hooker Motu Matu'u could miss a month with a knee injury.
Proctor's on concussion protocols as he's still showing some symptoms from a head knock, so he can't play on Friday, while Matu'u has a grade two medial collateral ligament strain and is out for at least four weeks.
Ma'a Nonu (R) could yet skip the Highlanders game, though Beauden Barrett is fit Photo: Photosport
And Boyd says they'll probably make a decision on Wednesday on whether to enforce Ma'a Nonu's final All Blacks rest break this week.
The Highlanders are likely to rest their international trio of Ben Smith, Malakai Fekitoa and Aaron Smith against the Hurricanes.
