Melbourne Rebels fullback Kurtley Beale has said that he is 100 per cent over his injuries but admits he could be fitter ahead of the Rebels Super Rugby match against the Waratahs.
Beale joined the Rebels from the Waratahs at the start of the season but suffering with a calf injury when the two teams met earlier in the season.
The Waratahs won the match 19-35 and it looked like Beale may miss the second clash between the teams as he has been hampered by persistent hamstring issues and
Beale has been criticised for being out of shape even though he has been one of the Rebels best players but he now says he is over his injury.
"I am 100 per cent," Beale told AAP.
"Obviously having soft-tissue injuries, they can hold you back a little bit and get you down in confidence but I'm back 100 per cent.
"I've still got a bit of work to do on conditioning the body but that will come."
Beale said he has been watching his diet and has a program in place that will get him back to his peak within six weeks.
The 23-year-old Wallabies fullback spent five seasons playing for New South Wales and said was "very excited" about returning to Sydney but was unsure what reception to expect.
"I don't want to treat it any differently and lose focus on my job," Beale said.
"I know there's a few attacking threats there and their back three, Bernard Foley, Tommy Kingston and Adam Ashley-Cooper, are always dangerous.
"There's going to be focus on that but I think for us, as a team collectively, it's important for us to stick together and follow the game strategy."
The Rebels will go into the match looking to bounce back after their 37-6 hammering by the Brumbies which coach Damien Hill described as "embarrassing".
Beale said that the Rebels will need to try anc contain the Waratahs powerful forward pack - which could feature Wallaby Rocky Elsom this week.
"They've got a Wallaby front-row and then having Cliffy Palu at the back, it's going to help them a lot in trying to gain momentum so it's important for us to chop legs and really get under them and stop their force because, if we don't do that, their backs will be very dangerous."
The Waratahs and the Rebels are expected to name their teams on Thursday.
