AB due to make Titans return this week

Cape Town - AB de Villiers could be back on a cricket field this week. 

The Proteas Test and ODI captain has been absent since the New Zealand Test series in August, missing that and then both the ODI and Test series against Australia with an elbow injury. 

He required surgery after the injury flared up at the Caribbean Premier League in July.

De Villiers is expected to return for the upcoming three-match Test series against Sri Lanka, starting on Boxing Day in Port Elizabeth, but he will reportedly look to get some game time under his belt this week. 

According to Cricinfo, De Villiers will be available for the Titans' last two group matches in this year's T20 Challenge. 

The Titans host the Lions at Centurion on Wednesday before traveling to East London for a date with the Warriors on Sunday. 

The Titans also confirmed that Proteas speedster Morne Morkel, who was on the tour to Australia but did not feature, would be available for their next two matches as he completes his recovery from a lower back strain. 

De Villiers is expected to keep the South African Test captaincy despite Faf du Plessis looking the part in his absence.