The invention is directed toward a surgical kit having component parts capable of use in excising a cartilage defect site on a patient to prepare the same for receipt of an implant plug, the kit comprising a cylindrical gauge with a central bore used to measure the defect area, a guide rod adapted to be driven through the gauge tube into the center of said defect area and a cartilage cutting assembly adapted to be mounted over the guide rod and used for excising the defect area and cutting a cylindrical bore into the defect area. The method for use of the kit comprises the steps of: marking the defect area to be cut; placing a guide rod into the center defect area and driving the same to a predetermined distance to secure the same in the defect area and placing a drill bit over the guide rod and rotating the drill bit to cut a cylindrical blind bore removing the cartilage defect.