Sir Alex Ferguson is crossing his fingers Wes Brown is finally over his injury nightmare.
Brown's medical history at Manchester United does not make pretty reading.
Cruciate ligament operations on both knees and a broken ankle for a start, plus a multitude of muscular problems that restricted him to an average of 20 Premier League starts a year until the season before last.
That memorable campaign allowed Brown to reclaim his England place and oust skipper Gary Neville as first-choice right-back in a season that ended in glory on both Premier League and Champions League fronts.
However, any feeling that Brown's fitness curse had been cured was cruelly dashed last term when an autumn ankle operation was followed by a foot injury that kept him on the sidelines nearly all year.
Although he returned to duty at Hull on the final day of the campaign, it was only Brown's 13th appearance in all competitions, a wretched return from one of the most congested seasons United have ever completed.
In addition, having regained his England place under Fabio Capello, apparently as first-choice right-back, Brown has promptly lost it again, his absence offering Liverpool new boy Glen Johnson the chance to impress.
Thankfully, Brown has managed to come through the early part of pre-season unscathed.
He was the only Red Devil to complete the full 90 minutes against a Malaysian XI in Kuala Lumpur on Monday night and, with Neville also feeling his way back after long-term problems, Ferguson realises just how important it will be to have the 29-year-old available on a regular basis again.
"If Wes stays fit, we are in business because he is a fantastic defender," said Ferguson.
"Even against the Malaysian team, on a couple of occasions he has showed real experience in handling one-versus-one situations.
"That is what he is really good at. His timing and reading of situations is fantastic. He is quick to get to the ball."
However, Ferguson knows there has to be an element of doubt, purely because of what Brown has been through in the past.
"If Wes stays fit, it is an absolute bonus for us," said Ferguson.
"You have to hope he gets the kind of luck he deserves because, when you look at his injury record, it is not a good one."