Rugby: Raising Cane - star eyes return

Sam Cane, pictured when he was injured playing for the Chiefs, is fighting fit and set to make his comeback from injury in two All Blacks warm-up matches in Auckland on Friday. Photo / Stephen Parker

Reporoa rugby star Sam Cane is nearing the end of the comeback trail.

The openside flanker, who was diagnosed with a small fracture in his knee following the Chiefs' loss to the Waratahs in New Plymouth in late May, has been progressing well under the direction of Tauranga-based All Blacks strength and conditioning coach Nic Gill.

A glorified All Blacks training run against North Harbour and Northland at Auckland's QBE Stadium on Friday has been targeted for the highly rated loose forward's return.

"Sam's going great, he's been working really hard over the last four to five weeks since his knee has been right," Gill said. "He'll be looking forward to getting on the park and hopefully he'll get about 60 minutes for us on Friday against Northland and North Harbour."

Gill had been in daily contact with Cane, who was spotted at a number of club games in the province in recent weeks.

"I spoke to him on Saturday and he'd been down in Reporoa watching the club footy, so he's still very much involved at the community level, which is exciting.

"He was going to be available for the Chiefs if they made the semifinals, but they missed out.

"He's ready to play."