All Blacks five-eighth Beauden Barrett has recovered from a knee injury to be considered available for the Hurricanes clash with the Highlanders this Friday.
Barrett came through training on Monday well enough to be picked for the Napier match, where the table-topping Hurricanes look to secure a home advantage for the Super Rugby semi-finals.
That means Manawatu's Otere Black, who has been starting for the Hurricanes in recent weeks, will fly to Italy on Thursday to join the New Zealand under-20 team for this weekend's game against Argentina in the junior world cup.
Barrett had been out for a month with a medial ligament tear and Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd had rated him a 50/50 chance of playing this week.
The Hurricanes still have second-string hooker Motu Matu'u out for four weeks with a similar knee problem. Outside back Matt Proctor is also still suffering concussion symptoms.
A decision is yet to be made on whether to rest All Black Ma'a Nonu.
The Highlanders, coming off a 36-9 thumping of the Chiefs, will rest their three All Blacks for the Hurricanes match.
Both sides are likely to be named on Wednesday.
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