The 30-year-old forward has resumed full contact at training and is confident of making his comeback against the Breakers.

‘‘I’m hoping to,’’ he said.

‘‘I have to make it through this week of training, but I made it through Monday with no issues and I expect to make it through the next couple of days, and I hope to be there on the bench and suiting up on Saturday.

‘‘Obviously you have to earn your time on the court from what you do on the practice floor and it’s up to the coaches what my role will be, but it’s just been great to practise again.

‘‘Just mentally and physically, being able to get out there with the boys, it’s great. This is what I do.

‘‘I’m back a little earlier than we thought, so that’s a bonus, and I’m just excited to be back.’’

The news comes as captain Mat Campbell has been forced out of tomorrow's night clash with New Zealand with an Achilles injury.

Gruber enjoyed a smooth run before the injury bug bit last season, forcing him to the sidelines for several games with a damaged ankle.

He couldn’t believe his bad luck when he broke his hand after an awkward fall during a training scrimmage in late November, but the former Northern Iowa University standout did his best to stay positive.

‘‘Last year when I went down I’d never dealt with this sort of thing before,’’ he said.

‘‘When I went down again I thought, ‘you gotta be kiddin’ me - not again’ because I’d been relatively injury-free in my career.

‘‘To deal with two in a row was tough, but I suppose it was also easier to handle this year because I had a battle last year and I came back.

‘‘I’m feeling good now. I’ve done the work in the off-season and done the work when I was out, and I’m motivated to get back.

‘‘The season has been up and down and frustrating for the boys, but to be on the sideline and not being able to contribute and help out, it’s been even more frustrating.

‘‘It feels good to be back on the floor among the boys again. If I can provide a spark or some physicality or dive on a loose ball, I just want to get in there and help out where I can.’’

Hawks guard Tyson Demos has been in bed most of the week with a virus but remains confident of playing tomorrow.