ANDRE Boucaud could go straight from the Aldershot substitutes' bench to the Posh starting line-up at Mansfield tomorrow (3pm).
The 21 year-old midfielder has returned from his three-month loan spell in the Conference just in time to cover a Posh midfield dilemma caused by a suspension for Paul Carden and Peter Gain's injury.
Gain has said he wants to play at Field Mill, but manager Mark Wright will only agree if the player convinces him he's 100 per cent fit. Youngsters Jamie Hand, Shane Huke and Adam Fry are the midfield alternatives to Boucaud.
Wright said: "Andre is our player again and as we have might have problems in midfield tomorrow he could get a chance.
"Obviously I would like Peter Gain to play, but I won't risk him ahead of the busy Christmas period. If he's 100 per cent fit he'll start, but I can't take any chances with him.
"I thought Shane Huke was excellent in his first game on Tuesday, but I'll have to see how he's come out of the match before making any decisions."
Boucaud started the first game of the League Two season, but hasn't appeared since. He made 13 appearances for The Shots, but lost his place when they signed veteran midfielder Brian Tinnion.
Posh start tomorrow's match in 10th place, four points off a play-off place. Wright is happy with his team's progress so far, but he's confident of improvement in the second half of the season.
Wright added: "In the last three matches we have proved what a good side we are. We beat Notts County comfortably, we should have beaten a good Carlisle side and we more than matched Swansea for 90 minutes.
"I'm very happy with how the lads have performed all season and there's no doubt in my mind that we can kick on and climb the table.
"We've only lost seven of our 21 matches in the league and anyone who has seen us play would admit that we should be a lot higher in the league now. We've drawn and lost several games this season that we deserved to win.
"Mansfield will be tough tomorrow. They play good football and get at you from the first whistle, but they are like everyone else in the division – we respect them, but we don't fear them."