Matthew Hodgson is finally in line to play his first Super Rugby match of the season © Getty Images

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Matt Hodgson is set to return to Super Rugby after being named in Western Force's 25-man travelling squad for their coming back-to-back matches in New Zealand.

Hodgson sustained a hamstring injury in the Force's final pre-season fixture against the Asia Pacific Dragons, and has been unavailable through the first half of the competition.

The 33-year-old is confident his body will hold firm for the rest of the Super Rugby campaign, saying his pre-season hamstring injury was a one-in-a-million occurrence. He faces crunch time as he attempts to work his way into World Cup calculations, and he's confident the injury won't strike again.

"It was a one-in-a-million type of injury," Hodgson said on Monday. "I was unlucky enough to get stuck under a body and get cleaned out at the same time.

"The hamstring had nowhere to go, so it was either that or the knee. I chose to do the hamstring because it's a shorter recovery. If I had any fears, I wouldn't be coming back."

The last-placed Force are now just one defeat away from equalling their longest-ever losing streak of nine set back in their debut season of 2006. Hodgson is desperate to halt the slide, and he said there were enough positives to take out of last week's 13-6 loss to the Stormers to suggest the Force were on the upward trend.

And after spending almost three months on the sidelines, the Wallabies flanker can't wait to get back out onto the park.

"Last night I was packing my bag and I almost put my suit in it," Hodgson said. "So it's good to throw that away and actually pack some footy boots. The body feels great. I did a full week of training last week. A few of the starting 15 boys didn't like me because I was too eager and I put a few shots on."

Hodgson will resume the captaincy of the squad, coinciding with the news that interim captain Sam Wykes will be unable to travel with the team after succumbing to a foot injury against the Stormers.

Alby Mathewson will also be sidelined after sustaining a knee injury against the Stormers. His absence provides the opportunity for Ryan Louwrens to push for his debut after being named in the squad.

Kane Koteka, rested from the match against the Stormers after suffering concussion against the Cheetahs a week ago, has also been selected in the squad.

Hodgson, who has re-signed with the Force for a further two years, played his way into Wallabies contention with a standout Super Rugby campaign last year. The hard-working veteran would love nothing more than the chance to play for Australia at the 2015 World Cup, but for now his focus is squarely set on helping the Force get off the foot of the table.

The Force leave Perth on Monday to play the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday and the Blues in Auckland on May 2.

Western Force squad: Marcel Brache, Luke Burton, Nathan Charles, Adam Coleman, Angus Cottrell, Pekahou Cowan, Nick Cummins, Sias Ebersohn, Tetera Faulkner, Kyle Godwin, Dane Haylett-Petty, Ross Haylett-Petty, Chris Heiberg, Matt Hodgson (c), Oliver Hoskins, Kane Koteka, Ryan Louwrens, Steve Mafi, Ben McCalman, Luke Morahan, Ian Prior, Solomoni Jnr Rasolea, Mitch Scott, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Heath Tessmann.