Star first-five Beauden Barrett admits he's still struggling with the effects of COVID-19, as he prepares to return to the Blues side for this weekend's clash with the Highlanders.
The All Blacks pivot was one of several Blues members struck down last week, and while he's expected to start against the southerners at Dunedin, he's still not quite himself.
"It's lingering a little bit, it's just my own personal case," Barrett tells Newshub.
"It's just taking quite a long time to get back to 100 percent."
Contracting the virus was just another speed bump for the two-time World Rugby player of the year.
Sidelined for the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific as he recovered from the concussion he suffered against Ireland last year, Barrett saw less than a half of rugby, before his season was derailed.
"It's been disruptive already this season, but we kind of expected it," Barrett says.
"Hopefully it's all behind us because we've got a big three games in 10 days coming up."
The Blues' second postponement of the Super Rugby season last weekend is one of several matches needing to be rescheduled, as NZ Rugby grapples with outbreaks among all of the Kiwi franchises.
But despite the competition's recent struggles, Barrett doesn't feel it prematurely pulled the pin on the Queenstown bubble.
"It was there to get the competition up and running and minimise the risk," Barrett says.
The extended time on the sideline is only fueling Barrett's hunger to return to the field.
"I just want to get out there and enjoy playing footy again."
After a difficult start to the season off the field, Barrett is ready to deliver on it.
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