Andre Boucaud will be fit and ready for selection when Kettering Town head to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.
The midfielder has missed the Poppies' last three matches in the Blue Square Premier after suffering a foot injury in the 2-1 home win over Barrow last month.
But the weekend's clash will come a week too soon for Mustapha Carayol as the winger – who is on a three-month loan from Torquay United – continues his rehabilitation from a torn hamstring.
Boucaud's return is a welcome boost for boss Mark Cooper, although the manager was keeping his cards close to his chest on whether the midfielder would come straight back in to the starting line-up at Kingsmeadow.
"He's a big player," Cooper said.
"He suffered a really nasty ligament strain and it was in a place where it couldn't really be strapped up. It needed rest and that's what it has had.
"It's great to have him available but the lads went and won the next three games after he was injured.
"They have certainly enjoyed letting him know that as well!"
Cooper admitted he has been pleased with the way his players have come
back after a welcome break following their NFA Hillier Senior Cup win at Northampton Spencer last week.
The Poppies dropped down to third in the league at the weekend as Stevenage Borough moved above them with a 4-0 win over Hayes & Yeading United.
But Cooper is feeling confident ahead of this weekend's clash with sixth-placed Wimbledon, who are the only side to have beaten Kettering at Rockingham Road this season.
"I know their assistant manager (Stuart Cash) quite well and speak to him a lot," Cooper added.
"They respect what we have done and we respect them. But there is no doubt that it is a massive game.
"They are expecting a crowd of over 4,000 to be there and that should make for a cracking atmosphere.
"Our lads have worked very hard so far and they deserved a rest.
"They have gone at two points a game in the league so far so it's been a tremendous effort.
"They have come back into some very hard sessions this week and they look fresh. It's been like a mini pre-season.
"But we will only know whether that break was good for us at 4.45pm on
Saturday."
The Poppies, meanwhile, have now confirmed that next weekend's FA Cup fourth qualifying round home match with Redditch United will be a category C game, meaning prices will be heavily reduced.
Fans are reminded that season tickets willl not be valid and that match tickets must be brought from the ticket office ahead of kick-off.