The softball diamond looks set to play an important role in resurrecting former All Black centre Jeremy Stanley's rugby career.
On the advice of his specialist, Barry Tietjens, Stanley, aged 25, is playing this season in the outfield for the Auckland Marist softball side.
Stanley, who made his All Black debut in1997 and is the son of former international Joe Stanley, had a knee reconstruction after he ruptured ligaments during the Highlanders' Super 12 game against the Waratahs last year.
He returned to the rugby field this year but survived only two of the Highlanders' pre-season games before injuring the knee again.
"He [Tietjens] said to try other things and to play other sports but not to do too much and not to overdo it," Stanley said.
"I'm just using softball to test it out.
"It's not too physical. This is just for the rehab and the enjoyment."
Stanley was a member of the 1992 New Zealand under-19 softball team, and in 1994 was a member of the New Zealand men's senior team who toured North America.
Stanley last played softball in 1995.
"I gave it up to concentrate on rugby," he said.
The forced layoff from sport has had its advantages, enabling Stanley to complete his medical studies.
He has worked as a house surgeon in Otago and is nearing the end of a six-month stint at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital.
"I've always wanted to get my degrees out of the way and I've been able to do that," he said.
"I will be registered next month and once that is done I can take off as much time as I like."
Stanley plans to play for Auckland Marist at January's national interclub softball tournament in Christchurch and then hopes to be back on the rugby field.
However, while he played for the Highlanders in the Super 12 in the past, he now has is his eyes on a Blues jersey.
