Blues captain Dalton Papalii has been passed fit to take the field for his team against the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Pacific final at Auckland's Eden Park.
The All Blacks flanker has missed his team's playoff run, as he recovered from appendicitis earlier this month and was bracketed with lock James Tucker among the reserves for Saturday's showdown against the archrivals from the south.
Papalii, 24, has seemingly passed his fitness tests and will come off the bench for the Blues, with Adrian Choat taking the No.7 jersey and first-five Beauden Barrett retaining onfield captaincy in his absence from the starting line-up.
Midfielder Bryce Heem is the other player returning to the Blues bench, after missing the semi-final against ACT Brumbies with concussion.
The Crusaders have welcomed back veteran lock Sam Whitelock, who missed last week's semi against the Chiefs with a thumb injury.
Bruising blindside flanker Pablo Matera has also avoided further judicial punishment, after his red card eight days ago, with the SANZAAR panel ruling there was "no pattern of concern" to his infringing.
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