The influential point guard CJ Bruton will return to the New Zealand Breakers line-up for the reigning Australian National Basketball League champions, New Year's Eve match against the Taipans in Cairns.
Bruton has had to sit and watch the competition leaders past five games as he recovered from a torn patella tendon in his knee.
The Breakers still sit atop the NBL table with 10 wins from 14 starts, although they lost their last game away to the second-placed Perth Wildcats 86-62.
The 36-year-old Bruton still needs to manage the injury and is set to come on from the bench but coach Andrej Lemanis will welcome the leadership and experience Bruton brings.
