New Zealand have been handed a timely boost ahead of their pivotal Rugby Championship tests against Australia with halfback Cameron Roigard cleared to return after a two-month layoff due to a foot injury.
Roigard has not featured since the second test of the France series in Wellington but will ease into action for Counties Manukau in their provincial match against Auckland at Pukekohe on Saturday, New Zealand Rugby said on Wednesday.
The return of Scott Robertson's first-choice scrumhalf shores up the All Blacks' halfback stocks after a broken leg ruled Noah Hotham out of the Wallabies' clash at Eden Park on 27 September and the Perth rematch a week later.
Australia lead the Rugby Championship on 11 points, one ahead of second-placed South Africa and third-placed New Zealand.
Roigard is one of 13 All Blacks released to play in the National Provincial Championship this weekend.
A number of them will be looking to impress selectors, including winger Caleb Clarke, who will play for Auckland after recovering from a high ankle injury, and winger/centre Rieko Ioane after he was dropped for the All Blacks' record 43-10 defeat by South Africa in Wellington.
Back from a thigh injury, loose forward Luke Jacobson will turn out for Waikato against Tasman, a match featuring a head-to-head battle between experienced centre Anton Lienert-Brown and explosive midfielder Leicester Fainga'anuku.