3rd hockey Test: Fit-again Walmiki set to play against SA

Promising striker Yuvraj Walmiki is all set to return to India's playing eleven in the third hockey Test against South Africa in New Delhi, on Thursday, after remaining in the sidelines for nearly one-and-a-half month due to a hip injury.

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Yuvraj, considered as the new rising star of Indian hockey, picked up the injury last month during the first of India's preparatory camp for the Olympic qualifiers in Bangalore.

But after four weeks of rehabilitation, the Mumbai lad now can't wait to get back to playing ways and is confident of his performance in tomorrow's game.

"I am eagerly looking forward to tomorrow's match. I haven't played hockey for the last 45 days, which is very frustrating. So, I am just eager to play tomorrow," Yuvraj told reporters on the eve of the match.

"The physio (Srikant Iyengar) and medical staff did a helped me a lot during my rehabilitation period.

"It's now a week that I have started practising and (exercise physiologist) David John also said that I can play tomorrow," said the striker, who shot into limelight in his debut tournament when he converted a penalty against Pakistan in the finals of the Asian Champions Trophy in China, which India won.

India's chief coach Michael Nobbs too hinted at Yuvraj's comeback and said he will again field a new look playing XI tomorrow to test his combinations ahead of the Olympic qualifiers to be held here from February 18-26.

"It's (changes) going to happen tomorrow as well. As I said earlier, I am going to give opportunities to everyone to show their talent in the first three games against a quality side like South Africa," Nobbs said.

India lead the five-match series 2-0 after defeating South Africa 4-0 and 2-1 in the first two matches.