England centre Emily Scarratt will return from a 13-month injury lay-off for Loughborough Lightning against Bristol Bears on Friday.
The 34-year-old, who has been capped 108 times by the Red Roses, underwent neck surgery last year.
The 2014 Rugby World Cup winner will start at inside centre despite playing the majority of her career at 13.
“Scaz [Scarratt] coming back is an absolute testament to her character,” said Lightning head coach Nathan Smith.
“I know she is absolutely laser-focused on getting back on the pitch and back to the form she has been in previously in her career.”
Scarratt, who was named World Player of the Year in 2019, injured her neck in January 2023 and chose to have an operation for the sake of her sporting career and her life after rugby.
Internationally, the centre missed the inaugural WXV1 tournament and the 2023 Six Nations, which the Red Roses were successful in winning.
“It is big for the group,” added Smith.
“We’ve got a lot of young players who should look up to people like that and rightly so. I think they’re really excited to play with someone of that magnitude.
“The Lightning medical team and the RFU medical team have done an exceptional job on her.”
The Red Roses begin their Six Nations Grand Slam defence on 24 March against Italy.