Santos received a boost ahead of the second leg of its Copa do Brasil third round clash against CRB with news that star forward Neymar is set to return from injury.
The 33 year-old trained normally with Santos' squad on Wednesday and is expected to be given minutes in the second half of Thursday's clash in the northeastern Brazilian city of Maceio.
Neymar has not played since suffering a left hamstring tear in Santos' 2-0 home win over Atletico Mineiro in Brazil's Serie A on April 16. He has made just nine appearances across all competitions since returning to his boyhood club on a free transfer from Al-Hilal in January.
New Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping Neymar comes through Thursday's match unscathed and regains fitness ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay in June.
Santos manager Cleber Xavier has also been boosted by the likely availability of winger Guilherme dos Santos, who has been sidelined since May 1 with a hip problem.
But the club will be without Venezuelan midfielder Yeferson Soteldo, who has a left hamstring injury, while left-back Gonzalo Escobar is suspended.
Santos and CRB drew 1-1 in the first leg at Santos' Vila Belmiro stadium on May 1.
