John Hastings will have his first match bowl for Worcestershire in the three-day clash with Leeds-Bradford MCCU at Weetwood which gets underway tomorrow (Friday).
Director Of Cricket Steve Rhodes said the Australian is back to bowling at "95 per cent pace" after his winter patella tendon operation.
Hastings has been turning his arm over regularly in the nets since arriving at New Road just over a fortnight ago.
He played purely as a batsman in the warm-up matches with Somerset at Taunton Vale and Gloucestershire at RGS Worcester.
Rhodes said: "He will bowl and he is in good shape. He has been bowling non-stop since he has been here.
"We just haven't bowled him in a game yet but we are now at that time. It's always been our plan to play him at Leeds-Bradford.
"He is probably firing at about 95 per cent pace now so that is good."
Rhodes said Hastings deserves immense credit for being so far advanced in his rehab after the December surgery.
He said: "We had a bit of a shock to the system (when he had the injury) but we've got him here.
"That's partly to do with a bit of luck that the damage wasn't so severe – but also is John's doing.
"He has been determined to try and make that first game and he is on target."
Rhodes says Hastings has already fitted into the dressing room and reminds him of another Australian in Andy Bichel who spent three successful seasons at New Road.
He said: "John reminds us a lot of an Andy Bichel type, a real club man, a winner, a fierce competitor, and someone who wants to play for his team.
"He is a big team player. He will be excellent in every single dimension including being a clubman."
