PROP Steve Collins is in the final stages of putting a nightmare year of injury behind him, as he gets closer to a first-team return.

"Shrek" suffered a horrific training ground injury just before the start of 'Stoke's national three south campaign last September, breaking his ankle.

Since then, due to the serious nature of the break, he has had to endure a frustrating spell on the sidelines.

But the loosehead is shortly to return to the fray and give a welcome boost to 'Stoke's weakened front row.

In the summer, 'Stoke lost Steve Buttle and Steve Hobden to retirement - though Hobden answered an emergency call to front up against Richmond - and Neil Young, to Reading.

Senior coach Jim Dixon's planned Kiwi import, loosehead Rees Morgan, suffered a shoulder injury that required reconstructive surgery, just days before he was due to fly to the UK.

Then, in a further blow, Ian White and Jamie Davenport announced their unavailability for the first two weeks of the season, additionally rupturing the front row.

That's why Dixon is looking forward to Collins' return, because it will significantly add experience to the side and weight to the pack.

He said: "Steve returned to full first-team training last week. He was involved in all the contact work and we put him through some awkward positions for his ankle, which he was able to handle.

"I reckon he will be back at the end of the month, which is a good thing. I know Steve's really keen to get back playing and into it too.

"We'll be involving him at training over the next few weeks to build his fitness and we'll give him a game for the Dragons in the last week of September.

"If all goes well, he'll then be available for the London Scottish game at home on October 2."