South Sydney prop Zane Musgrove made his NRL debut in Round 1 and hasn't played since due to a serious wrist injury that threatened to derail his season before it even really begun.
Following his starring role in the Rabbitohs' 42-10 win over the Roosters, the full extent of Musgrove's wrist damage wasn't revealed until the next day's recovery session with precautionary scans indicating his season would just about be over.
Five months on and with just one Intrust Super Premiership game under his belt, Musgrove has been named by coach Michael Maguire in the front row to face the fourth-placed Canberra Raiders on Sunday afternoon.
Rabbitohs veteran John Sutton injured his pec against the Tricolours in Round 1 and spent plenty of time alongside Musgrove in rehab.
Sutton believes nobody worked harder in the casualty ward and that Musgrove deserves everything he earns in the final six weeks of the season.
"Zane's worked really hard to get back on the field. Nobody thought he was a chance to be back this year when he did his wrist so it'll be good to see him back," Sutton said.
"I heard he had a run over the weekend and played pretty well. So he should be good and I'm very happy to see him back in the top grade."
Musgrove has been one of the seven Rabbitohs NRL debutants in 2016 including Cody Walker, Tautalatasi Tasi, Siosifa Talakai, Ed Murphy and Jack Gosiewski.
However it's 20-year-old former Australian rugby union representative Angus Crichton who has impressed plenty, none more so than Souths halfback Adam Reynolds.
"It's good to get some experience within the younger blokes. They really thrive off it. We have had a fair injury toll which has given these blokes a decent opportunity," Reynolds said.
"Blokes like Angus Crichton, who has had his fair share of injuries as well, I can't praise him high enough for the attitude he upholds every day at this club.
"He's been rewarded with a first grade spot, and he's definitely done a good job at it. We'll see him and a few others around for a long time."
Sam Burgess is confident the progression of the Rabbitohs' debutants will give fans something to be happy about at year's end.
"We'll be looking to grow our players and continue to take steps forward in different aspects," he said.
"We're looking at these remaining weeks as something to make our fans happy about."