RG Snyman is in line for a return to action next month with Munster after enduring a horrific spell of injury since his move to the province in 2020.
Two ACL ruptures have meant that the South African World Cup-winner lined out just four times, while he also suffered burns injuries in a firepit accident in 2021.
However, this week's medical bulletin from the province, who face Ospreys in the BTK URC on Friday night, provided a welcome boost for the 28-year-old lock.
"He is obviously very resilient as a human being, that is first and foremost," attack coach Mike Prendergast told RTÉ Sport.
"I have only gotten to know him over the last six months. He's a really, really good guy, a real positive guy.
"He has been through tough times, but any time I meet him or you come into the building and you pass him by he is always very positive and he always tried to stay with the group as much as he could in terms of input.
"As much as he could he was in our videos in terms of after games, before games where we were analysing teams, just to keep up to speed.
"You'd rely on the experience he has and I think we have included him well there.
"In terms of what he has been through with the medical side of things from here and the S&C, they have been really good to him in terms of from a human point of view as well.
"Obviously, when you get one injury and you get two injuries one after the other that will obviously challenge you and it is a credit to our staff here and he is the first to say that, so in terms of looking after him physically, they have done a huge job but mentally also."
Prendergast was unable to confirm which match has been pencilled in but Munster face Scarlets in Musgrave Park on 3 March and Glasgow in Thomond on 25 March, while Friday's game comes too soon.
"Look, we are here now, he is around the corner, and I suppose without looking back too much, we are all looking forward and so is he," he said.
"He is really, really excited, we are excited, the players are excited, it is a huge boost I think for the club and it is a really good time to come back into it after a long spell out."
The two-time European champions are able to welcome back Keith Earls, Gavin Coombes (below) and Roman Salanoa from Ireland camp with all three in the mix to face the Welsh outfit, who sit 12th in the table, six places behind their hosts (7.35pm, Thomond Park).
"They definitely come back into selection [conversation]," added the former Racing 92 coach.
"We haven't the side decided yet, so we will sit down this afternoon. We would have assessed how the boys trained and they have trained very well.
"They are obviously coming back full of confidence and very positive, but definitely with a lot of hunger as well. They were boys, as you said, who were only touching distance away from being on the pitch [in the Six Nations]."
Jeremy Loughman (thigh), James French (leg), Tom Ahern (shoulder), Paddy Kelly (head), Eoin O'Connor (shoulder), Jack Daly (knee), Calvin Nash (chest), Andrew Conway (knee), Mike Haley (ankle) are all unavailable for the game.
Meanwhile, the province has announced that centre Malakai Fekitoa will leave at the end of the season.
The former All Black made 11 appearances having joined the club last summer and leaves halfway through a two-year deal.
