SARACENS back-row star Richard Hill received a double dose of good news this week after a scan revealed no serious damage to the ankle he injured against Leeds on Sunday, as well as being short-listed to land the coveted Zurich Premiership Player of the Season Award.

The 29-year-old England and Lions flanker underwent a scan on Monday to ascertain the extent of the injury which had looked to threaten his involvment in England's summer tour of the southern hemipshere. However, Hill was given the all-clear by the specialists, which comes as a major boost to Clive Woodward and Saracens coach Buck Shelford who needs his back-row pivot to be fit for the Zurich Wildcard Final against Leicester Tigers on Saturday, May 31

Hill , who has been in imperious form this season, received a further fillip when he was nominated, along with Jake Boer, Andrew Blowers and Ludovic Mercier, for the prestigious Zurich Premiership Player of the Season Award which will judged by ten rugby print and broadcast journalists, who will take into consideration outstanding performances in the Zurich Premiership this season. The winner will be announced on Thursday, May 22.

In addition, Hill has also been nominated for the Zurich Premiership Supporters' Player of the Season Award which is chosen each year by visitors to http://www.zurichpremiership.com who are given the chance to vote for one of 12 players. Voting is currently taking place until Sunday, May 25 and the winner will be announced the following day.

The other 11 candidates are: Elvis Seveali'i (Bath), Daryl Gibson (Bristol Shoguns), Jake Boer (Gloucester), Cameron Mather (Leeds Tykes), Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers)

Paul Sackey (London Irish), Simon Shaw (London Wasps), Tony Diprose (NEC Harlequins)

Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons), Paul Grayson (Northampton Saints), Richard Hill (Saracens), Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks).

Should he be successful, Hill may well be advised to build a new trophy cabinet at his home. Having formed an intergal part of England's Grand Slam winning team, the Salisbury-born flanker was named Saracens' Fans Player of the Season and is also in the running for the Professional Rugby Players award.