Tom Lockyer has been named in the starting XI for Briston Rovers against Crawley Town on Saturday, with the defender set to make his first appearance since suffering a cardiac arrest in December 2023.
The Wales star fell to the turf while playing for Luton against Bournemouth that day, with doctors then intervening to save his life.
Lockyer initially faced an uncertain future in football. However, earlier this week, the 30-year-old joined Rovers after his Luton contract expired.
He has gone straight into his new team's side, with the Welshman starting as his side look to return to winning ways after previous defeats to Bristol Rovers and MK Dons.
Speaking before the showdown, meanwhile, Lockyer expressed his delight at returning to Rovers - the team he started his career with.
"It feels really, really good to once again be a Bristol Rovers player," he said.
"Obviously I've been training here for a while and I've tried not to think too much about it or get too excited about the ifs, buts and maybes.
Tom Lockyer collapsed during Luton's Premier League clash with Bournemouth in December 2023
| GETTY IMAGES"But as soon as I knew that Darrell [Clarke, Bristol Rovers head coach] wanted to get something done, it was easy for me to then make a decision about coming back home.
"It is so hard to explain but it's everything I've worked so hard for over the last two years.
"Hopefully I can have many, many more good memories in a football shirt.
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"I'm going to celebrate the little wins back on a football pitch and I just want to enjoy it.
"I wouldn't be doing this otherwise. I'm doing this because I love playing football and I've got that massive desire to play football again, and what better place to do that than back home at Bristol Rovers."
Speaking last year, meanwhile, Lockyer revealed that he 'literally died' on the pitch at the Vitality Stadium.
"I literally died but I have been numb to the whole thing since," he explained.
"It was just a normal day, and that was the most worrying thing because I felt completely fine.
"I have been looking for answers since but I have not been able to find any because it was just another day at the office.
Tom Lockyer is back at Bristol Rovers after previously being let go by Luton
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"I was running towards the halfway line and I went really light-headed. I thought I'd be okay in a second but I wasn't.
"I woke up and the paramedics were there. I knew instantly it was different to my collapse in May. Last time it felt like I woke up from a dream, and this time I woke up from nothingness.
"I could see there was more panic and I was a bit disorientated. I couldn't speak, I couldn't move.
"I was trying to work out what was happening, and I remember thinking, 'I could be dying here'.
"It was a surreal thought to to have, not being able to respond, and you can see the panic going on."
Lockyer is able to resume his career on ootball ater being itted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator following a five-day stint in hospital.