Waterford hurling boss Davy Fitzgerald expects Stephen Bennett to see action in the early rounds of the league.
The Ballysaggart forward is battling a career threatening hip injury at the moment but Fitzgerald says that he is working hard to prove his fitness.
"Stephen has made unbelievable progress that we didn't anticipate. We thought he might be in trouble for a while. The injury Stephen has is not good. If he was told to quit, we would have totally understood. Stephen being Stephen, I don't think people know his character, he has been incredible. We've changed the way he's training. He is training in a different way completely and he is working very hard. He has put in a very good three weeks so you might be seeing him in the first week or two. We'll have to manage his load going on, that's very important. I'm delighted to have him because the news we got late last year was more or less it will be touch and go whether he will play again. I don't know how long he will play for but he has put in some effort."
Offaly v Waterford in Round 1 of the National League will be our George Corbett Skoda Big Match on Sunday. Join Kieran O'Connor and Brian Flannery for live coverage from 1.45.
Hear more from Davy Fitzgerald on Lár Na Páirce from 6.10.
