With his 2019 over after a serious knee injury, All Blacks star Damian McKenzie is looking forward to what's to come, rather than get bogged down in what might have been.
McKenzie, 24, saw his Rugby World Cup ambitions snatched away from him in April this year, a knee injury suffered in Super Rugby wiping out his entire year.
Now on the long road to recovery, McKenzie says everything is going to plan, eyeing a return for the Chiefs in the 2020 Super Rugby campaign.
Speaking to 1 NEWS at a sponsor's event, McKenzie updated just where he's at in terms of his return to the field.
"Recovery's going really well," he said.
"I'm about four months into recovery, so I'm back running, and shortly can start changing direction in my running - which'll be cool.
"My return to playing is about the end of January, when Super Rugby starts. I'll do a pre-season with the Chiefs, and then hopefully round one I'll be ready to go."
Despite being so young into his playing career, McKenzie isn't letting such a serious injury put a dampener on his spirits, opting instead to stay philosophical over his terrible luck.
"I guess that's rugby, injuries happen. [It's] not the ideal year for it to happen.
"It's happened now, I've just got to look forward to what's to come, and that's obviously me focusing on next year, getting into some good footy then, hopefully staying injury free.
"But for now, it's about getting my recovery right, watching the lads, and getting out in the community and doing stuff like this with the kids."
The Chiefs open their Super Rugby season on January 31, taking on the Blues at Eden Park.
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