The 24-year-old scrum-half has been out of action since mid-November when he had his left shoulder dislocated and ligaments damaged after being tackled off-the-ball and twisted to the ground by the Pacific Islanders' flanker Viliami Vaki.

At the time Cusiter was told that he would be side-lined for three to four months, meaning that even a best case scenario would see him miss the first two matches of Scotland's Six Nations campaign - against England on February 3, and against Wales at Murrayfield a week later - while a full four-month lay-off would cause him to miss the whole competition.

However Cusiter's rehabilitation has gone far better than anticipated, and yesterday the player hinted that he was targeting a comeback for the Border Reivers against Newport Gwent Dragons on January 26, with a view to sneaking back into contention for the national team to face England eight days later.

"I saw the surgeon last Tuesday and he was really pleased with my progress so far," Cusiter said.

"I was very lucky to get operated on the day after I was injured and I think that has knocked weeks off my recovery time. The after-care I've had has been brilliant too.

"It's difficult to say when exactly I'll be back. From a structural point of view the joint is fairly sound, but I only started doing rugby training last week.

"I'm hoping to build that up so that I am doing contact at some point either this week or next week, so we'll have to wait and see how it reacts to that.

"It's coming along really well, and I don't expect there to be any major problems.

"Whether I can get back onto the pitch with the Borders before the Six Nations is going to be an important factor. Time is not really on my side but if the joint is structurally sound and I'm feeling good then hopefully I will be in the frame.

"To play for Scotland in the Six Nations is the main reason I play rugby but to come back after two and a half months out injured and go straight into those sorts of matches is a big ask. I'll just have to see how it goes."

Cusiter's optimistic prognosis will be particularly heart-warming for national coach Frank Hadden especially as Mike Blair, his other front-line scrum-half, is also sidelined with a shoulder injury at the moment and is not expected to be back until after the Wales games.

It is unlikely that Hadden will have any major qualms about throwing Cusiter back in at the deep end if he thinks the player is ready.

In November he selected Simon Taylor to start against the Pacific Islanders, despite the fact that the number eight had only played 60 minutes of rugby since returning from a six month lay-off with a medial ligament injury.