New Chiefs captain Sam Cane has offered his advice to teammate Damian McKenzie, as he bids to make his return from an injury ruined 2019.
McKenzie, 24, has been out of action since last April after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament, missing the rest of 2019 including the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup campaign in Japan.
Having returned from a broken neck to start 2019, Cane knows about the struggle McKenzie will be going through ahead of his return to the field when Super Rugby starts up again at the end of the month.
The Chiefs' new captain offered what advice and support he can for McKenzie, who coach Warren Gatland confirmed will be available for the opening round of Super Rugby.
"I wouldn't say we had a real formal chat about it, it might have been over a beer over summer," Cane told media.
"We had a wee chat, and I said for me personally, it's about getting that first one [game] under the belt, without putting too much expectation or pressure on yourself.
"To be fair, you've just got to trust the medical staff that whatever injury you've got, they won't send you out there unless you're right to play.
"Having that mental capacity to get over that, put it to one side and rip into it, there's no point holding back."
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