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Melbourne - As he prepares to play his first rugby match in eight months, Melbourne Rebels star Stirling Mortlock has warned the rest of his body still has some catching up to do with his rebuilt back.
Mortlock will make his long-awaited debut for the Super Rugby newcomers in a trial match against Fiji in Ballarat on Saturday.
The 33-year-old hasn't played since May last year, when he was found to have a serious disc problem which required back surgery soon after announcing his move from the Brumbies to the Rebels for 2011.
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Mortlock, who still harbours ambitions of breaking back into the Wallabies' set-up in time for the Rugby World Cup, is keen to clock up at least half a game against Fiji.
Thrilled with how his back feels, Mortlock believes once he reaches full fitness he will be a better player than he was just prior to his injury being diagnosed.
"I still feel as though my body has got a little way to go, but I'm very confident in the back," Mortlock said.
"(Before surgery) my right side was essentially not doing what I asked it to do.
"When my body is hopefully in tip-top shape, I'm hoping for it to be significantly better than it has been in a number of years.
"I have been out for a while and arguably when I was playing, I wasn't at full capacity.
"It's taking a while for my body to get back to where I want to be, but I've still got two weeks to get in shape before we start the Super series."
Mortlock hopes the Rebels' remaining two trial matches will get him to where he needs to be to play in their Super Rugby opener against the NSW Waratahs at AAMI Park on February 18.
He has been back in full training for the past month, and is hoping for more game time in the trial against the Crusaders on Saturday week.
"It's been a tough road back. I lost a significant amount of weight, and with that a lot of power and strength," Mortlock said.
"Right now where I'm at, I'm very happy. But it still feels like I've got a way to go before I feel totally comfortable.
"I am a bit rusty, but that's why it's been good to be training for a consistent period of time with the team."
Rebels coach Rod Macqueen said it was great that Mortlock's hard work and dedication to his rehabilitation is set to be rewarded.
"Stirling's been terrific off the field for the club and since his operation, his body's like new he keeps telling us," Macqueen said.
"His enthusiasm at training's been great and it's really good to see him getting back out on the field again."
Mortlock will make his long-awaited debut for the Super Rugby newcomers in a trial match against Fiji in Ballarat on Saturday.
The 33-year-old hasn't played since May last year, when he was found to have a serious disc problem which required back surgery soon after announcing his move from the Brumbies to the Rebels for 2011.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Mortlock, who still harbours ambitions of breaking back into the Wallabies' set-up in time for the Rugby World Cup, is keen to clock up at least half a game against Fiji.
Thrilled with how his back feels, Mortlock believes once he reaches full fitness he will be a better player than he was just prior to his injury being diagnosed.
"I still feel as though my body has got a little way to go, but I'm very confident in the back," Mortlock said.
"(Before surgery) my right side was essentially not doing what I asked it to do.
"When my body is hopefully in tip-top shape, I'm hoping for it to be significantly better than it has been in a number of years.
"I have been out for a while and arguably when I was playing, I wasn't at full capacity.
"It's taking a while for my body to get back to where I want to be, but I've still got two weeks to get in shape before we start the Super series."
Mortlock hopes the Rebels' remaining two trial matches will get him to where he needs to be to play in their Super Rugby opener against the NSW Waratahs at AAMI Park on February 18.
He has been back in full training for the past month, and is hoping for more game time in the trial against the Crusaders on Saturday week.
"It's been a tough road back. I lost a significant amount of weight, and with that a lot of power and strength," Mortlock said.
"Right now where I'm at, I'm very happy. But it still feels like I've got a way to go before I feel totally comfortable.
"I am a bit rusty, but that's why it's been good to be training for a consistent period of time with the team."
Rebels coach Rod Macqueen said it was great that Mortlock's hard work and dedication to his rehabilitation is set to be rewarded.
"Stirling's been terrific off the field for the club and since his operation, his body's like new he keeps telling us," Macqueen said.
"His enthusiasm at training's been great and it's really good to see him getting back out on the field again."
