SHAOXING - Olympic champions China's defending chances were given a major boost as injury-battered women's volleyball players Zhao Ruirui and Feng Kun enjoyed a brisk workout in the ongoing friendly series against Cuba.

Feng Kun(L) and Zhao Ruirui [File photo]

The skillful middle blocker Zhao, once playing a crucial part in head coach Chen Zhonghe's side, suffered too many setbacks in her fragile knees around the 2004 Athens Games and was forced out of action for almost four years.

While captain and setter Feng, also coming off a knee injury, has been sidelined for almost a year following surgery in 2007.

The duet, together with Yang Hao, Zhou Suhong, Liu Ya'nan and Zhang Na, are the only players in the current team with Olympic experience.

"I feel relieved to see them fully fit again and back to my squad," said Chen before the six-game friendly series began in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian province on February 24.

"Feng and Zhao recovered well from the surgeries. Feng is able to play 80 percent of her champion-winning level and Zhao at 90 percent.

However, their form demonstrated in the matches gave a lot more convincing evidence on their fitness than in Chen's words.

Both players featured in the starting lineup of each game thus far. The 1.97-meter Zhao now is the team's leading scorer averaging 10.7 points in the first four legs of the series, causing trouble in Cuba's strong defense while Feng is getting involved in the team's offense,  creating more chances for the spikers.

"After missing the 2007 season, I have to inspire chemistry with my teammates match after match, it takes time but I think I have improved a lot in the winter training camp," said Feng here on Saturday.

"We have bad fortunes in 2006 and 2007, so the team is determined to make a fresh start this year and get the defense of its Olympic crown back on track," added Feng. "I believe in myself and my team."