All Blacks utility back Nehe Milner-Skudder could be in contention to face the British & Irish Lions as he targets a June return from injury.
Milner-Skudder suffered a small fracture in his foot when he landed awkwardly after a tackle during the Hurriances Super Rugby defeat to the Chiefs in March. However, he did not require surgery.
"It [foot injury] is not end of the year or anything like that," Milner-Skudder told Stuff.co.nz. "I'll work my way back and definitely hopeful of featuring in that June window. I'm unsure who it'll be for, but surely I'll be back playing some footy by then.
"I'm hoping just to get back out on the field with the Canes. The boys head off to Africa in three or four weeks time, then they're back against the Chiefs at home before the break. I could try to pencil that in as a bit of a goal."
The disadvantage for the Hurricanes back is that he hasn't played much rugby in the last year, having missed last season with a shoulder injury and the clash against the Chiefs was just his second game back.
Having scored six tries on the way to winning the 2015 Rugby World Cup with the All Blacks, he provided a reminder to head coach Steve Hansen of his scoring threat with a hat trick on his return against the Melbourne Rebels a week before injury struck.
Initially he hoped to be back within six weeks but he is now taking some comfort in every phase of his recovery.
"I got back on the treadmill yesterday, another step in the right direction. It's a bit of relief and a lot of satisfaction changing it up from being on the rower and the grinder. It's heading in the right direction, getting back on my feet and getting the legs ticking over."