After 10 months without competitive football, would Chippa United midfielder Andile Jali be ready to face his former club Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership opener?
Jali last kicked a ball in anger at Moroka Swallows two days before Christmas last year, prior to a player strike that led to the club forfeiting matches against Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows respectively.
READ: Appollis' dream move | 'Myself and him know what that is'
Ahead of the resumption of the season in January, the midfielder did not return to the Birds, as he was one of the players dismissed for allegedly downing tools due to unpaid salaries.
Although most players were later reinstated by Swallows, Jali opted to take a break and was contemplating retirement, before eventually signing for Chippa in July.
There have been suggestions and question marks over the veteran's physical condition, emanating from images posted on social media, but head coach Kwanele Kopo says Jali has worked hard to get back into shape.
"He has improved a lot from the time he joined us. I think Andile was out for quite a while having left Swallows in November [December] and not really doing anything. But I think compliments to him, first and foremost," the ex-Pretoria Callies mentor said on Metro FM Sports.
"Because since Andile joined us, he has been in the gym an hour and 30 minutes before training every single day, for the whole pre-season period. He has really lost weight, he really looks sharper.
"I think people will be surprised when we introduce him. Obviously he's not the same Andile that you had at Sundowns, he's a bit older, so the mobility is not the same. But I think the quality and fitness level is good. He has played in the pre-season games.
READ: 'I wish I was still at Sundowns'
"He played against Kaizer Chiefs, SuperSport [United] and three of the games against PSL sides. So, he has a few games under his belt and he will definitely feature in the squad from the start of the season."
Chippa open their Betway Premiership campaign against the Buccaneers next Wednesday at Orlando Stadium.