De Vere hopes for March return

Australian Test centre Michael De Vere, Huddersfield's high-profile close-season signing from Brisbane Broncos, is on course to make his comeback from a knee re-construction in March.

The 28-year-old goalkicking ace, who has signed a two-year contract with the Giants, is expected to miss the first month of the new Super League season, which gets under way on February 11.

De Vere, who was unveiled at a press conference at the Galpharm Stadium today, said: "The knee feels good. I will probably miss the first few games of the season but I'm back running.

"I spoke with the surgeon before I left and it's on track. There is no way you can rush it. I'm doing everything I can. I'll take it week by week but I should be playing by the end of March."

De Vere, who won the last of his four Test caps against New Zealand last April, has been sidelined since tearing knee ligaments in training last July, just three weeks after signing for Huddersfield.

He insists there will be no lasting damage, however, and is looking forward to kick-starting his career.

"The English game has improved a lot - you can tell by the recent Tri-Nations - and I'm expecting it to be pretty tough."

Huddersfield, who have also signed Canberra hooker Brad Drew and England A half-back Chris Thorman from Parramatta, step up their preparations for the new season with a warm-weather training camp in Portugal later this month.