Injured New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill is on track to return to the national side, but he won't be taking any shortcuts.
The tall top order batsman has been recovering from an injury to his left hamstring, suffered just before he was to face the West Indies for a New Zealand selection at Lincoln late last month.
The injury has cost him that match and the first three rounds of the Ford Trophy, and put a judder bar in his start to what should be a busy international summer.
Guptill lost his test place late last year but with 23 short-form internationals back to back starting at Cobham Oval against the Windies today, it is shaping up as a busy time for the damaging batsman with matches against the West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and England coming up.
New Zealand coach Mike Hesson suggested last week that, with fingers crossed, Guptill might be ready to return for the start of the three-game T20 series against the West Indies, on December 29 in Nelson.
Guptill is reluctant to be more specific other than to say he's hoping to be back "fairly soon".
You can't blame him for being cautious. He's had problems with both legs in recent seasons and is taking it small steps at a time.
A couple of minor setbacks in the last fortnight have added to the sense of not getting ahead of himself.