Chester Williams, the forgotten man of South African rugby, hopes to return to the field soon after having to fly home early from the overseas leg of the Cats' Super 12 campaign due to recurring knee trouble.

The Springbok wing is hoping to get a game for the Lions next weekend in the Vodacom Cup, but they are not in contention for a semifinal place in the Top Eight anymore. It looks like Williams has to make his comeback in a club match as Cats' coach Laurie Mains last week indicated he has no plans of bringing the experienced player back into the Super 12 fray this season.

Upon his return two weeks ago, Williams went to see the same specialist who thrice previously performed surgery on his troublesome knees and the prognosis was that he twisted his left knee. "Small pieces of cartilage also came loose due to friction and that aggravated the swelling, but it is nothing serious and with a bit of rest I will be okay," the World Cup hero of 1995 said on Wednesday.

Williams is back in the gym and says he is running a lot to stay in shape. "I'm going to make myself available for the Lions and definitely want to play next weekend," he added.

He is not too happy with the treatment he received from Cats' coach Laurie Mains after playing just two halves in the Super 12 this year. "I discussed my situation with him at the start of the season and told him I don't want to play Super 12 in order to give my knee a good recovery period.

"I told him I'd liked to return in time for the Currie Cup season, but he told me he needed me, just to ignore me during the season. I just put myself at a disadvantage by playing while I was not completely fit. I should have rested for longer and the knee would have had a better recovery period."

Williams says he now has a long and heavy road back to gain the form that made him such a valuable player for the Cats and South Africa. "I am disappointed, but what can I do. I want to play Currie Cup rugby and at the moment all I can do is build myself up in the gym and get myself fit for the Currie Cup. I just hope I get selected for that competition..."

Two young Turks in Wylie Human and Dean Hall played excellently and that made Mains' decision to keep Williams on the bench easier. The latter has no qualms about the two men who kept him out in the cold.

"I always told Dean and Wylie that they are playing great rugby and I cannot blame them for anything. They used their opportunities, like I used my opportunities in the past. Now I must wait to use my chance if it comes my way again," he commented.

Williams is a fighter and he is adamant that he can back from his latest setback like he did after he suffered two debilitating knee injuries that kept him out of rugby for almost two years. He has a steely determination to prove his detractors wrong and relive past glories.

"I am absolutely certain that I can reach the same level of play I produced previously. I've always shown in the past that I can do it. I'm only 30 years old and there are guys older than me in the Springbok and Super 12 squads.

"What prevents me from still making it at that level? I don't have a problem, I just need a chance to play and I'm sure I'll grab it."