Veteran Wallaby halfback Sam Cordingley has won his fitness battle and is set to make a farewell appearance for the Queensland Reds in Saturday night's big Super 14 rugby showdown with the NSW Waratahs.
Cordingley was today named to return on the bench in the Suncorp Stadium match after overcoming the calf muscle injury that has kept him out for much of the competition.
It will be Cordingley's final appearance before heading overseas at the end of the year to rejoin his former French club, Grenoble.
He will be joined on the Reds bench by prop Rodney Blake, who has served a one match suspension, and 21-year-old winger Caleb Brown, who comes into the squad for the suspended Digby Ioane.
Lock James Horwill retains the captaincy he assumed from Cordingley after the halfback first fell victim to his injury in South Africa in early April.
It's been a long haul back for Cordingley, who was desperate to play one more game for the Reds before heading for France.
"We're fortunate that Sam has come through okay," said coach Phil Mooney.
"While we couldn't risk starting him after such a long layoff, young Ben Lucas has been doing a good job for us at scrumhalf in Sam's absence and we'll still have the benefit of bringing Sam off the bench when the time is right."
Queensland Reds: Clinton Schifcofske, Brando Va'aulu, Morgan Turinui, Berrick Barnes, Peter Hynes, Quade Cooper, Ben Lucas, Leroy Houston, David Croft, Poutasi Luafutu, James Horwill (c), Van Humphries, Dayna Edwards, Stephen Moore, Ben Coutts. Reserves: Sean Hardman, Rodney Blake, Ed O'Donoghue, Scott Higginbotham, Sam Cordingley, Charlie Fetoai, Caleb Brown.
