Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has confirmed star test flanker Wallace Sititi is set to return for the Super Rugby leaders "within the next month".
McMillan delivered the positive injury update after his side beat previous leaders the Reds 27-15 in wet conditions on Friday to reclaim top spot at the midway point of the championship.
Sititi underwent knee surgery in January, six weeks after completing his debut international season in which the dynamic forward emerged as one of the All Blacks' best players.
He was named World Rugby's "breakthrough" player of the year.
Sititi's recovery was initially forecast to last the length of the Super Rugby season, also putting him in doubt for the three-test home series against France in July.
However, McMillan said the 22-year-old had improved rapidly.
"He's doing really well with his recovery, so he's almost back into full training," McMillan said.
"He hasn't really had a full contact training yet, and we've got to be smart around making sure that he goes through all those sorts of progressions.
"But he's sort of tracking in the right direction, that within the next month, he might be a contender, which is probably a lot earlier than what we anticipated."
The Chiefs notched their sixth win out of seven to leapfrog the Reds, who suffered their second loss.
Goalkicking proved the difference in slippery conditions.
Both teams scored three tries but Queensland converted none of theirs while Chiefs fly-half Damian McKenzie landed all of his, along with two penalty goals.