Tamihere's season got off to a false start, straining his hamstring in the second minute of the second match, against Auckland at Eden Park.
He has been in recovery mode ever since and will play on the openside flank for Otago tomorrow.
"I've done acupuncture and massaged it pretty much every day and it has responded well. When I did it they said it might be anywhere from four to six weeks, so to be able to get back in 3 weeks was a great effort," Tamihere said.
Much will be expected of Tamihere (27) in his return as Otago desperately needs to get back to some form after the disappointing performance against Southland last Saturday.
Tamihere admitted he would rather be playing but watching had been something he had got used to over the past few years.
After attending Papatoetoe High School, Tamihere played for North Harbour, being lured across the bridge by Mark Anscombe.
He was part of the North Harbour side which in 2006 won the Ranfurly Shield off Canterbury, the first time the union had won the hallowed trophy.
Capped by the Blues that same year, a promising career looked mapped out in front of him.
But it all came to a screaming halt within six months.
"North Harbour made some changes that next year and they dumped the coach, Allan Pollock. I had a contract for 2007 but in March that year [new coach] Wayne Pivac called me in and said I would not be used, and he did not like the way I played.
"That was disappointing ... I didn't even get a chance to defend the shield. I was gone by the time the first game was played."
So with his representative ambitions on hold, Tamihere decided to pursue another goal - to become a policeman.
He joined the force and for four years was in blue, based in Otahuhu in South Auckland, and had just been limited to playing the odd game for police teams.
But the rugby appetite never quite went away.
He knew Otago board member Laurie Mains and got in touch with the Otago coaching staff and a two-year contract eventuated.
Bringing his family down with him - wife Tracey and daughter Alyssa (4) and Harper (6 months) - Tamihere said he was enjoying life in the South, and the chance to play top-level rugby again.
He was on leave from the police but was looking at joining them again and was working through that at the moment.
But on Sunday his mind will be firmly on beating Waikato, a side which has had the wood on Otago of late.
The Mooloos picked Otago to play when the ITM Cup draw was carried out last year and appear to be building some confidence after a good win over Canterbury midweek. It will name its side today.
Otago has made seven changes to its starting side, with Matt Faddes making his Otago starting debut on the wing, replacing Joe Hill.
Jayden Spence comes into centre, with five Otago born and bred players in the backline.
Up front, Rob Verbakel and Daniel Ramsay will lock the scrum, with TJ Ioane on the blindside flank. Co-coach Andy Hunter said Ioane had made an impact every time he had come on the field and deserves a start.
Tony Brown will captain the side in place of Tom Donnelly, who is on the bench after being released yesterday from the All Blacks squad. Showers are forecast for Hamilton tomorrow.
Otago has a tight turnaround after the match, back home to play Manawatu on Wednesday.
Otago v Waikato
Hamilton, tomorrow, 4.35pm
Otago: Ben Smith, Buxton Popoali'i, Jayden Spence, Glenn Dickson, Matt Faddes, Tony Brown (captain), Sean Romans, Gareth Evans, Regan Tamihere, TJ Ioane, Daniel Ramsay, Rob Verbakel, Kees Meeuws, Liam Coltman, James McGougan. Reserves: Jason Macdonald, Scott Manson, Pieter van der Merwe, Tom Donnelly, Adam Hill, Johnny Legg, Hayden Parker, Ben Atiga.
Referee: Nick Briant (Bay of Plenty)
