EP Warriors coach Robin Peterson says Anrich Nortje will determine the pace at which he bowls upon his return from injury.

The 30-year-old is set to play his first competitive match in seven months when the Warriors take on the KZN Inland Tuskers in their T20 Challenge opener at St George’s Park on Friday.

A stress fracture in Nortje’s lower back ruled him out of last year’s ODI World Cup in India and the recent SA20 tournament.

“To be honest, what South African cricket needs currently is just for Anrich to get through a few matches,” Warriors coach Robin Peterson told News24. “A seven to eight months hiatus is a substantial one.

“It requires a lot of physical and mental resilience to recover from such a setback, which Anrich has definitely shown, but it doesn’t mean we should be hasty in terms of setting certain expectations yet.”

News24 reports that Nortje has been training at full tilt for the past seven weeks and took full part in two intra-squad matches ahead of the T20 Challenge.

However, it may take time for him to get back to top form.

“Anrich is professional enough to understand that he’s in the best position to determine what’s going to be best for his body at the moment,” said Peterson.

“If he believes he can maintain that pace we’ve become so used to and thrilled by, then you’ve got to back him. If he needs to find a rhythm more steadily, then so be it.

“You can’t be dogmatic about these things.”