Ospreys and Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones back from injury
Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones suffers his elbow injury against Scotland
Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones has returned to the Ospreys squad, named on the bench for Friday's west Wales Magners League derby with Scarlets in Swansea.
The British and Irish Lions star, 24, has been out since chipping a bone in his elbow in Wales' 31-24 Scotland win.
The news will be a huge boost to region and country before some major games.
The Ospreys face Biarritz in a Heineken Cup quarter-final next week, while Wales play South Africa in Cardiff then two Tests in New Zealand in June.
Lions Test player Jones hurt his left elbow and damaged ligaments tackling Sean Lamont in Wales' bruising Six Nations victory over Scotland at the Millennium Stadium in February.
That was in the 35th minute, but he continued to play through the pain for the remainder of the game after being assessed.
That ruled him out of the rest of the tournament and left him doubtful for the 10 April European game in San Sebastian.
Ospreys physio Chris Towers previously described his chances of facing Biarritz as "very much a 'best-case' scenario".
The Liberty Stadium side are very much the underdogs for the quarter-final, and they also face a challenging league run-in as they seek a top-four play-off place and a qualifying spot for next season's Heineken Cup.
Meanwhile, Biarritz have lost the services of their Samoan international Pelu Taele.
The 6ft 6ins New Zealand-born lock is set to sit out the next six weeks after damaging the medial ligament in his knee in last weekend's Top 14 victory over Toulouse in San Sebastian.
Extended highlights - England 30-17 Wales
Argentina international Manuel Carizza is likely to replace Taele as Jerome Thion's partner against Jones and the Ospreys.
Thirty-seven-cap Jones has been one of Wales' consistent performers in recent years.
During his sin-binning at Twickenham, the Welsh team conceded 17 points in their 30-17 defeat to England - emphasising Jones' importance to the team.
Coach Gatland blamed the lock for Wales' England defeat and the player, who featured in all three Lions Tests in South Africa, admitted he feared for his international future after that loss.
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