Posted by Cardiff Blues scrum-half Lloyd Williams is expected to be fit for the start of the Guinness Pro14 next week, despite playing no part in pre-season.
The 29-year-old has been struggling with a leg muscle injury and was not involved in the Celtic Cup clash against Dragons A or the friendly away at Bedford Blues on Saturday.
Lewis Jones started both games with academy scrum-half Jamie Hill coming off the bench, with both taking the opportunity to put in impressive performances.
However Williams is expected to fly out to South Africa as part of a squad that have very few injury concerns ahead of the first game of the season against Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth.
Rhys Gill, Kristian Dacey, Scott Andrews, Josh Turnbull and Olly Robinson all came through returns from summer operations in Bedford, while Nick Williams’ early substitution at Goldington Road was a pre-planned move.
Also included in the squad to fly out to South Africa at the end of the week will be Jarrod Evans and Owen Lane, who have been given time off after being involved in Wales’ pre-World Cup training camp but not making the 31-man squad to travel to Japan.
They will head out to Cape Town this coming weekend for a training camp before flying to Port Elizabeth for the game.
The only two players not in contention for that camp are Ellis Jenkins and Rhun Williams who both remain on the long-term injury list.
In a recent interview with Simon Thomas, John Mulvihill confirmed that flanker Jenkins was back running now, with the European double header against Pau in December pencilled in for a return to playing action.
Meanwhile full-back Williams was partaking in some gentle skills activities, but there was no firm suggestion of a return to playing.
