All White Noah Hickey's frustrating spell on the sidelines may be about to end as the New Zealand Knights try to get their A League campaign back on track.
After three weeks out with a knee injury, Hickey is a contender for the side to face the unbeaten Queensland Roar
in Brisbane tomorrow night.
He said after training yesterday that there was still some soreness in the knee, but he was close to full fitness.
"I'm between 80 and 90 per cent, I guess. It's just strengthening it and a confidence thing."
Hickey appeared in all of the Knights' pre-season fixtures.
But the injury in the final pre-season match - a 2-1 loss to Queensland - meant that he has not featured since the competition proper began.
"I can't even put into words how frustrating it has been. I played in every game in the pre-season and I was happy with my form. Everything was going really well, but since then I've just been sitting out watching the boys."
With two wins and last weekend's 0-0 draw with the Central Coast Mariners, Queensland are second on the table, three points ahead of the fifth-placed Knights.
Hickey rated Queensland as "probably the best football team" in the league.
"They play the ball around and they are great around midfield. They are near the top of the league, unbeaten as well. They are going to be really tough."
Hickey said two players the Knights would have to close down were midfielder Hyuk-Su Seo and veteran striker Ante Milicic.
For the Knights, the match marks their first away trip of the season and manager Paul Nevin has indicated there will be changes after the 3-0 loss to Melbourne last Sunday.
Hickey, 28, said the Knights, who conceded all three goals by halftime, would have to put their worst performance under Nevin behind them.
"It was not up to scratch. It's a matter of getting that out of our way and we've worked hard this week to move on."
- NZPA
