All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has given the biggest possible hint that Dane Coles will return to the side sooner rather than later, having left the dynamic hooker out of his side to face the Wallabies in Tokyo this weekend.
Coles, 31, hasn't played since November's injury suffered against France, but was a part of the All Blacks squad during this year's Rugby Championship.
With the lineup for Australia this weekend decided, speculation has begun as to whether or not Coles will face Japan the following week, to which Hansen replied with:
"We considered him but we felt he can wait another week.
"He can have a good week's training with us, and maybe play next week."
With Coles having made two brief cameos for Wellington at provincial level in the Mitre 10 Cup, Hansen said that it was about finding the right circumstances to re-introduce him to Test rugby.
"We just need to be able to find the right time to give him a game."
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