Kelleher could be key factor in Shield clash

All Blacks halfback Byron Kelleher is looking forward to his return to rugby to play for Waikato tomorrow after a six-week break recovering from concussion.

He hopes he can play a part in helping Waikato take the Ranfurly Shield off Canterbury for the first time in their history.

It will be six weeks on Sunday since he was decked early in the All Blacks' Tri-Nations opener at Cape Town by Springboks lock Victor Matfield.

This is only the third week he has been able to train since.

Kelleher said it had been a test of character coping with the break, particularly the first three weeks when he was dogged by severe symptoms, which included headaches, nausea, sleeplessness, sore eyes, impaired hearing, and was unable to exercise.

"I couldn't even hear my own voice, which was a bit frustrating at times because I love hearing my own voice, being a typical halfback and all," he said.

But those symptoms have all gone, he's had two weeks of intensive fitness and strength training before returning to team training this week.

His return coincides with those of fellow All Blacks Jono Gibbes, Sione Lauaki and Sitiveni Sivivatu.

"It's just a matter of match fitness now and you can only get that on the field, so I'll just go hard until I die.

"It's been a heavy load for the last couple of weeks and this week has just been about freshening up and understanding all the moves.

"I'd love to play the whole game but we'll just see what happens."

With All Blacks commitments and injuries keeping him out of previous challenges for Otago and Waikato, he said that should not be allowed to become a distraction.

"The Shield's going to be quite a huge challenge for the boys but I think we have to put that focus aside and have to concentrate on our individual jobs, otherwise we could lose focus on what we have to do during the game and get too carried away with what we're actually playing for."

- nzpa