Leeds Rhinos hooker Danny Buderus nearing fitness

Buderus fractured his tibia against Wigan in July

Leeds Rhinos hooker Danny Buderus is on course to return to full fitness ahead of Super League XV and hopes to play a pre-season friendly on Boxing Day.

The former Australia captain, 31, suffered a broken leg in July and missed the rest of the 2009 campaign.

"I had an x-ray the other day just to check the injury had fully healed," he told BBC Radio Leeds.

"It'd be great to play with a bunch of the younger fellas on Boxing Day. That'd be a new experience."

He added: "I've just started running again this week which is great and hopefully I'll be back in the main group in the next fortnight or so."

The Rhinos face Wakefield on Boxing Day and start the 2010 campaign away at Celtic Crusaders on Friday, 29 January.

Head Coach Brian McClennan said: "We are very pleased with how the guys are looking.

"We have two groups at present, the players who are fully fit have gone straight into their pre-season campaign and the players who are returning from injury or close-season operations are working with our medical team.

"Danny Buderus is coming along really well. Our physio staff are very pleased with how he has come back from his time off and he is making good strides.

"The rehab group are doing well in general with Ali Lauitiiti, Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Brett Delaney working hard.

"Even the longer-term injured players like Keith Senior and Ian Kirke are being very diligent and taking care of themselves and, at this stage, we are confident that they will be ready for the start of the season in 2010."