Cape Town - One of the major boosts for the Springboks ahead of their Rugby Championship campaign is the return of hooker Malcolm Marx.
The 24-year-old, considered to be one of the best No 2s in world rugby currently, missed the June Tests against England with injury.
Now, he is back to full fitness and ready to go in national colours once more.
Despite being one of the Lions players who was involved in the Super Rugby final in Christchurch two weekends ago, Marx is expected to start on Saturday in South Africa's tournament opener against Argentina in Durban.
And while forwards coach Matt Proudfoot is delighted to have his man back, he made a point on Tuesday of praising Bongi Mbonambi for the work that he had done in June.
"He's a very humble man and a guy who sets high goals for himself ... he's a great player," Proudfoot said of Marx.
"In saying that, in the two Test matches that we won in June with Bongi, I think Bongi showed his quality."
Proudfoot said that Mbonambi was providing some stiff competition for Marx at the moment.
"If you look at Steven (Kitshoff) and Beast (Mtawarira) and which one starts and which one comes off the bench, I think we're pretty much getting there with our hookers as well. It's a great place to be.
"As Rassie (Erasmus) has said, the process is to build on that and create that level where we have two or three guys in the position playing at so that come World Cup time we will be in a good position.
"I like the competition between him and Bongi and it's also exciting to work with Akker (Van der Merwe) and have a player just a little bit different to the two of them and add some spice."
VIDEO: @Springboks forwards coach Matt Proudfoot on the return of hooker @M_marxi2. pic.twitter.com/PWJRTyO3Ca
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) August 14, 2018