Jane has played only a game and a half for Wellington in the ITM Cup this year after his knee problem ruled him out of the entire Super Rugby season.
A hamstring strain when he was on the verge of a return against Australian in Dunedin delayed his comeback further, which in hindsight, may have been a good thing, said Hansen, adding the 30-year-old had the class to deliver despite a lack of match fitness.
"I think the false start might have been a blessing," Hansen said. "He seems a bit more comfortable and confident having been around a bit longer. He's settled in being a rugby player rather than a media star - that won't have done him any harm either.
"We just want him to do his core roles. If there's an opportunity to finish, we want to see him finish. We know he's really good in the air, so having the confidence to get up and do that job will be great.
"He's a guy who has played a lot of test matches," Hansen replied when asked whether a return against France in Paris was a tall order. "He's world class and he's just got to remind himself that he is world class."
If anyone has the talent to defy the odds and make a success of his comeback in what could be difficult and wet conditions at Stade de France it is Jane.
At 1.83m and 88kg, he has made a habit of breaking conversions. He packs a lot of power into his relatively small frame, and his game awareness and simple knack for being in the right place at the right time has made him a valuable weapon on both attack and defence over his 43-test career.
Co-ordinating the raw Charlie Piutau and returning Jane in a new back three will be fullback Israel Dagg and he has no doubt his old sparring partner will return with his usual spark.
"He's a great player, he's been around for a long time," said Dagg. "He's got a lot of experience and knows how to read the game. It's great to have a guy like that back."
Hansen's plan was to start Piutau and Julian Savea and bring Jane off the bench - probably with a view to starting him against England next weekend - but Savea's flu put paid to that.