Cork veteran Anthony Lynch is now back in contention for a starting berth in the All-Ireland SFC final in two weeks' time.
The 33-year-old Naomh Aban clubman, a veteran of three losing All-Ireland finals in 1999, 2007 and 2009, has not played all year because of a groin problem, but could be set for a timely return to the first team against Down at Croke Park on September 19.
Cork selector Ger O'Sullivan says that the gifted defender is now back in full fitness and is in the shake-up to break into a Cork side that has not wholly impressed despite winning five games in a row since their Munster semi-final replay defeat to Kerry.
"Anthony has been back in training with us and he's going well and he is on target to come into the All-Ireland final picture," O'Sullivan said this week.
"Having him back is a great boost, he's a hugely experienced player and having him available for selection would be a big lift.
"There's still over a fortnight to go to the game and his availability would give us a very important extra option in defence."
Meanwhile, hope remains that Lynch's fellow old-stager Graham Canty will be okay to play in the final. Canty tore a hamstring in the quarter-final win over Roscommon and aggravated the injury in the first half when manager Conor Counihan picked him for the semi-final win over Dublin.
O'Sullivan said, however: "He's still getting treatment, but we'd hope that Graham will be backing kicking a football next week and again with over two weeks to go we'd be giving him a 50/50 chance at this stage."