Australia hooker Stephen Moore hopes to feature in the Wallabies’ Tri Nations opener against South Africa this weekend after recovering from injury.
The 27-year-old played his first game in nine weeks on Saturday following a nasty jaw injury.
Moore featured in an Australian club game at the weekend, having last seen action when the Brumbies faced the Crusaders on May 15.
And after missing the Tests against Fiji, Ireland and the double header with England, Moore is desperate to return to Wallaby colours against the Springboks in Brisbane.
"Definitely, that's the plan," Moore said to the Canberra Times.
"I'll be there somewhere and I feel confident. The injury's fully healed and ready to go.”
Moore, who is expected to be an essential ingredient in next year’s World Cup and the 2013 Lions tour, has been a big part of his country’s front-row resurgence over recent months.
Alongside props Ben Alexander and Benn Robinson, Moore has helped the Wallabies shake off the tag of scrum pushovers that has dogged them for so many years.
That progress was severely halted without this summer when the Wallabies struggled without the aforementioned trio and head coach Robbie Deans will hope Moore’s return can put his side back on track once more.
Moore admits that it may take a while for him to return to full match fitness but he insists he is confident he will step
"I was obviously blowing a fair bit during the game, as I knew I would be, having had nine weeks off,” added Moore.
"I felt better in the second half than the first half after I had a bit of a blow-out.
"And the jaw felt good, which was probably the most important thing. I didn't feel it at all during the game, so that was good to get that confidence back in it."
