Star back-rower Jack Dempsey is targeting the NSW Waratahs' nostalgic return to the SCG next season as his own comeback date following five months out with a hamstring injury.
Man of the match in Australia's drought-breaking Bledisloe Cup win over the All Blacks in October, Dempsey tore two tendons off the bone during the Wallabies' victory over the Barbarians a fortnight later.
He missed the spring tour but says he's making great progress with his rehabilitation.
"It's going well. I've had five weeks now since surgery," Dempsey said on Monday.
"It's one of those things that every week you feel a little bit better. You get a bit more mobile and it's really about taking it one step at a time."
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After spending several months on the sidelines last year with a foot injury, Dempsey has learnt not to rush any comeback.
But he's hopeful of being back on deck for the Waratahs' Super Rugby grudge match with the Queensland Reds at the SCG on April 14.
It will be the first rugby match at the famous old ground since 1983.
"I'm hoping for an April return. Anywhere in April playing footy would definitely be a win, so this (game) here would be an awesome goal to achieve, if I'm back on the field by then," the 23-year-old said.
The two captains from that match 34 years ago, NSW and Australian great Simon Poidevin and Queensland's former Wallabies captain Andrew Slack, were at the SCG on Monday to make the announcement.
Slack said he'd love to see a sellout crowd for the occasion and challenged the two sides to bounce back from disastrous 2017 campaigns to ensure a healthy turnout.
"That's up to the Reds and the Waratahs in the weeks preceding (to perform) because we clearly know people like to follow teams that are going well," he said.
"Both sides will be looking to improve on last season and, if they have and at that stage they're close to undefeated, you'd like to think you'd have close to a full house."
NSW coach Daryl Gibson pointed out that none of his Waratahs squad were even born the last time rugby was played at the SCG.
"We are honoured and delighted at the opportunity to play at a venue that holds such an iconic status in the world of sport," Gibson said.
