Buoyant Warne wants to play before World Cup

SYDNEY, Jan 5 AAP - Six hours of rehabilitation work every day for the last 21 days have paid off for Shane Warne.

His bowling arm is no longer in a sling and his World Cup prospects are no longer in doubt.

Australia's great leg spinner has reaped such great rewards from an arduous recovery program for his dislocated shoulder that he expects to be on the field again by the end of the month.

He might even play an international tri-series game for Australia.

But even if Warne doesn't appear in a full-fledged international before the Australians leave for the World Cup in South Africa on January 30, the 33-year-old seems certain to test his arm under match conditions for Victoria or a grade side in Melbourne.

"It all depends on how it progresses in the next week," Warne said at the SCG nets today.

"If the next week goes okay, if it goes as well as last week, then I'll definitely play a game before we go to the World Cup.

"I don't know whether it will be for Victoria or in club cricket or for Australia or whatever - I'd have to play for Victoria first or club cricket to get some confidence first before playing in an international."

Warne, man of the match in Australia's thumping victory over Pakistan in the last World Cup final, has been working feverishly on his shoulder with team physiotherapist Errol Alcott and fitness coach Jock Campbell since the dislocation at the MCG on December 15.

He's so vital to Australia's World Cup title defence that coach John Buchanan has indicated he will be given until halfway through the two-month tournament to recover.

"I've done the work, so I'm glad I've improved," said Warne.

"I've worked very hard for six hours a day - two hours of fitness with Jock and four hours with Hooter (Alcott).

"I've been putting in so it's good to see some progress - it's all going well, really well. Hopefully everything will be sweet."

Australia's first match at the World Cup is against Pakistan on February 11 at the Wanderers, Johannesburg.

Assuming Australia breezes through the first round stage of pool games, the real business of the Super Sixes will start on March 7.

Warne had his first tentative bowl in the SCG nets on Friday, delivering about seven overs without discomfort.