Australian batsman Will Pucovksi is set to make his return to Cricket this weekend in Victoria's Premier league.
The one-time international Test representative hasn't featured at the elite level since early last year, where he amassed scores of 62 and 10 against India at the SCG in January.
The 23-year-old has since battled ongoing concussion concerns that have riddled his young career, having sustained a 10th head knock at training ahead of the Ashes summer in October.
Pucovski's latest setback ruled out any chance of Victorian representing Australia in the Ashes, with a conservative approach in his return required for the emerging opener.
The long-awaited journey now looks to be coming to a conclusion, with Pucovski set to line up for the Melbourne Cricket Club against Kingston Hawthorn on Saturday.
The prospect of Pucovski returning the crease is one that is set to excite both the young star and those that have supported him in his battle with concussion.
“We just want him to go out there and enjoy himself,” Melbourne coach Ben Vague told The Leader's Brayden May.
“The next step for Will is about getting some continuity in his game and hopefully this is the next step on his path back to the professional level.
“It will all come back to him as the game goes on and hopefully he can spend some time out in the middle.”
Melbourne currently sits fourth in the Premier Firsts standings after six matches, having recorded four wins and one draw.
Pucovski's return to Melbourne will be welcoming in more ways than one, with the club's squad currently heavily impacted with players undergoing COVID-19 enforced protocols.
Speaking earlier this week on SEN, Pucovski expressed his delight to finally make his return, which will come close to exactly one year since his last appearance.
"Assuming I can avoid coronavirus which seems to be around every corner in Melbourne at the moment,” Pucovski said.
“So, I’m doing my best to stay out of the way of that.
“For the first time in a while I’m actually pretty excited to play grade cricket again, to be honest, it’s been nearly a year to the day since I’ve actually played a game, so I am starting to miss it quite a bit.
“I’m sort of trying to go one step at a time, play a bit of club cricket, play a bit of state cricket and then we’ll see what happens.”
Melbourne will travel to Walt Galter Reserve in Parkdale for Saturday's match.
