Lions full-back Lee Byrne is aiming to give Wales a fitness boost by returning to face South Africa on Saturday.
Byrne played in four games and scored two tries during the 2009 Lions tour of South Africa, before he was ruled out of the second and third Tests through injury.
And he had been set to miss out facing the Springboks again when he fractured his hand while on Magners League duty with the Ospreys late last month. But Byrne and fellow Lion Ryan Jones could now be set to return to action as Wales take on South Africa at the Millennium Stadium this weekend.
And former Lions defence coach Shaun Edwards is hopeful that the duo can provide Wales with a boost after his men fell to a 26-15 defeat at the hands Australia.
"That was a full-strength Australia," said Edwards. "We have four or five Lions missing, and you would like to think with our forward dominance, if we can get them fit, we can become a strong team.
"We are hoping that Lee Byrne could be back and available. We will also check on Ryan over the next week.
"A lot of boys came off frustrated," said Edwards, referring to the loss. "But we have to get back to the drawing board and work hard this week.
"Last year, we didn't show up at all. This time, we competed very well and we were in the game for long periods, it was just a little lack of discipline and a lack of awareness when they turned the ball over that cost us.
"South Africa are world champions. They play a completely different way to Australia, and it's all about recovering now before another big, intense game next weekend."
