Injured South Africa captain AB de Villiers is still holding out hope of playing in the Proteas' upcoming Test tour of Australia.
The superstar batsman succumbed to an elbow injury before Australia's current five-match one-day series in South Africa and underwent surgery earlier this week.
Doctors have given him no chance of recovering in time for the Proteas' three-Test series which starts in Perth on November 3.
But the 32-year-old says he still believes he can prove his fitness for South Africa's first day-night Test in Adelaide starting on November 24.
"Maybe after the six weeks, if I do fly over straight away, I'll be there for the second Test match," de Villiers told Adelaide's 5AA radio station.
"There may be an opportunity to prepare during that game - not play in it - and then be ready for the Adelaide Test, which would be a dream come true to play in a day-night Test against Australia."
De Villiers also dismissed speculation he might be contemplating retirement, saying his aim remains to play for the Proteas until at least the 2019 World Cup.
"I will have to manage myself to get there," he said.
"I've always been a fit guy, I could maybe go even further than 2019.
"But to me 2019 is the main one. I would love to be around for that World Cup."
