All Blacks and Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles is set to be named on the reserves bench for Friday’s quarterfinal against the Brumbies in Canberra, four months after his last game.
Coles suffered a calf injury against the Highlanders in round four and then developed concussion symptoms which lingered, ruling him out of New Zealand's drawn Test series against the British and Irish Lions.
Last year Coles suffered painful rib cartilage damage in the quarter‑finals which ruled him out of their semi‑final defeat of the Chiefs.
It was widely expected he would sit out the home final against the Lions but he played in pain for 60 minutes, something his teammates later said they found inspiring.
The defending champions will play the Brumbies at 9.35pm this Friday.
In other quarter finals, the Crusaders will host the Highlanders at 7.35pm Saturday, the Lions will host the Sharks at 12.30am Sunday while the Stormers will take on the Chiefs at 3am Sunday.
Source: TVNZ
