Cardiff number eight Taulupe Faletau is targeting a return to action before the end of October after a six-months out with a broken shoulder.
Faletau suffered the injury on his Cardiff comeback against Ulster in April. It was his first game back after six months out with a broken arm he picked up in Wales' 2023 World Cup campaign.
According to Faletau, if everything goes well in his rehab, he could be back for the Blue and Blacks' encounter with Ulster at the Arms Park on Saturday, 26 October in the BKT United Rugby Championship.
"I am still trying to get back from my shoulder injury, trying to get my full range of movement back," said Faletau.
"We have finally put a date on it and pencilled in the end of October, hopefully. It depends on the physios, maybe it will be earlier if they're happy.
"It will then be a case of slowly dripping back into contact and seeing how the shoulder goes."
"The injury was nuts. One of the boys caught it when I was trying to seal the ruck, somebody cleared me out and that was that.
"I've watched games since and it's nuts how it happens.
"I heard a movement, which I thought maybe was a dislocation - like it had popped out and in again.
"I knew it was a bad one and the amount of time I would be out for, you manage what you need to do and how you plan that out."
Faletau is back in training and says the Arms Park is an exciting place to be as he prepares for his third season with Cardiff.
"In the last couple of weeks, I've been able to train with the boys and it's just nice to have a ball in your hands,” added Faletau.
"The main aim is to get back out on the pitch with Cardiff, stay fit and give the season a good go.
"I haven't had much to do with the guys with last year (injury) but being around them and trying to build on last season is exciting.
"In the meetings and when you go out to training, it is an exciting place to be at the moment."