Injured Waratahs prop Sekope Kepu says he's on track to return in time for the Wallabies' opening Test match of the international season against Samoa on July 17.
Kepu suffered medial ligament damage to his left knee in the Waratahs' Round 15 loss to the Sharks six weeks ago.
The Kiwi-born front-rower took part in a Wallabies scrum camp at Coogee Oval on Tuesday and is a chance to return for club side Randwick against Eastwood on Saturday.
Despite being sidelined since the end of May, Kepu is all but guaranteed a spot in Robbie Deans' 40-man Tri-Nations squad to be named on Sunday after a strong Super Rugby campaign in the unfamiliar role of tighthead prop.
It appears likely Kepu will be used off the bench against Samoa if available, but he's confident he'll be ready to start the match if required.
"This is the sixth week this Saturday so I've been running for the last three weeks and doing some condition this week ... it's looking really good, it's feeling really good," Kepu said.
"If I get picked for next week I'll be ready so it's just about getting the right things done and not actually overdoing it."
"Whether it's playing this week or a volume of running, I'm sure if I get picked in the 40-man squad the preparation will be crucial."
"I'm comfortable whatever the situation is I'll be ready for it."
With Reds tighthead James Slipper sidelined for around six weeks with an ankle injury, Kepu and incumbent Ben Alexander are the remaining candidates to secure the No.3 jumper for the Tri-Nations campaign.
Kepu's three previous Test caps all came at loosehead prop, but the 25-year-old revealed he now considers himself a tighthead specialist.
"Obviously with Al Baxter retiring at the end of this year at the Tahs that's where I sort of see myself," he said.
"Basically I look at myself as a tighthead now and it's good that I have the loosehead knowledge in the back pocket if I'm needed on that side, but Benn Robinson's doing an awesome job on that side."
"At first it was daunting to be honest, it's always nerve wracking having to go over to tighthead because it's a bigger challenge obviously."
"It's a whole new skill, it's not like going from left wing to right wing ... but I'm enjoying it."