Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse could be in line for a stunning return to action in his side's Champions League quarter-final clash with Juventus tomorrow night, six months after an injury that could have ended his career.
The France international was expected to miss the whole of the season after he suffered a horrific broken leg in a league match against Blackburn in October last year.
Cisse admitted at the time of his injury that he feared the damage was so bad he might even lose the leg but he has made a miraculous recovery, to the extent that Benitez is willing to take the risk in Turin.
Benitez said: "He will not start the match, but maybe we will use him in the last 20 minutes or so if we need something different and he is quick and can score goals.
"He has been saying for a couple of weeks that he is ready, but we have wanted to be careful and make sure he is okay."
The Reds could also welcome back Xabi Alonso to action, the Spanish midfielder has played just 45 minutes of a reserve game since breaking his ankle on New Years' Day.
However, Liverpool's injury misery is not over yet as skipper Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of the match due to a groin injury.
Benitez said of Gerrard: "We decided it was not worth the risk, he could have travelled but then we might have lost him for the rest of the season and the final Premiership games are too important."
Liverpool are also without cup-tied pair Fernando Morientes and Mauricio Pellegrino while Dietmar Hamann, Harry Kewell, Josemi, Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Neil Mellor are all long-term injury victims.
Benitez, meanwhile, must decide whether to stick with young goalkeeper Scott Carson over experienced Polish international Jerzy Dudek.
It was a mistake by Carson that allowed Fabio Cannavaro to score an away goal in the first leg.
"Scott is a very good goalkeeper but I have yet to decide who to play and I will check on both of their mental and physical states," Benitez said.
Juventus have injury problems of their own, with striker David Trezeguet was ruled out of the clash with an ankle injury.
The French international, who hurt his ankle after appearing as a second-half substitute in last week's first leg at Anfield, attempted to train today but was unable to complete the work-out.
Trezeguet's absence means Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will play alongside Alessandro del Piero in attack as Juve attempt to overturn a 2-1 deficit.
