Australia opener David Warner remains optimistic of playing in the first Test against New Zealand as he continues his recovery from a broken thumb.
The Test vice-captain suffered the injury in a one-day international against England on September 5, but avoided surgery.
Warner is aiming to be fit to play in New South Wales' Sheffield Shield opener starting October 28.
That is just over a week before the first Test against New Zealand starts in Brisbane and Warner remains hopeful of taking his place.
"I saw the surgeon at the four-week mark, which was last Friday," Warner told reporters on Tuesday. "I had an x-ray and it was still broken.
"He said generally around the six-week mark - I'm coming up to five weeks at the moment - generally it would be healed.
"At this stage my goal is to try and play the first Shield game. I'll have a follow up x-ray this Friday and then if all goes well I'll be having a hit on Monday."
Warner insists his form will be no problem despite the break, saying it had mostly been a positive.
"Eight years on the road, playing a lot of cricket, you don't lose your ability overnight. This four-to-six-week break has probably mentally freshened me up," he said.
"I think it is going to put me in good stead for the summer. You are only one or two hits away in the nets, an hour off from getting back to what you can be."