Cape Town - Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is hopeful of being fit to face Pakistan following ankle surgery in Melbourne last week.
Marsh was unable to fulfil an off-season contract with Surrey ultimately being replaced by Proteas opener Dean Elgar but now hopes to be back for the as yet unconfirmed Test series against Pakistan in the UAE penciled in for September or October.
The all-rounder had a breakout summer for Australia with a triumphant return to the XI in the Ashes and a handy contribution against South Africa.
Marsh returned home to Perth on Friday telling Seven News at the Perth airport: "(I'm going to) keep my feet up for a couple of weeks then get stuck into pre-season with Western Australia.
"Hopefully I can try and get over to play for Surrey at some stage, but if not be ready for Test matches in September."
The Pakistan Cricket Board have not confirmed the Test series for the UAE and are likely to be attempting to wrangle Cricket Australia into agreeing to play some white ball cricket in Pakistan itself as opposed to the UAE.
Pakistan are eager to bring cricket back to the country having staged T20Is in both Lahore and Karachi while planning to bring Test cricket back in the near future.
Marsh meanwhile is on the road to recovery having endured his second winter surgery in successive years after having his shoulder repaired after the Test series in India in 2017.
He is perhaps the strongest candidate to take over from David Warner as the Test vice-captain after the banning of skipper Steve Smith and his deputy alongside Cameron Bancroft after the sandpaper/ball-tampering saga.