James Pattinson has the necessary backbone for a Test comeback but will his back's bones let him?
The Australian and Victorian paceman is bowling again in the nets after surgery last November to fix yet another stress fracture in a vertebrae.
He underwent the operation in New Zealand after the third fracture of the L4 vertebrae ruined his 2017-18 season.
While Pattinson is upbeat about his recovery, he said on Friday there are no guarantees he will return to Test cricket.
"I never doubt my ability in getting back there - obviously it's just the history with injuries," he said
"That's the thing, whether I can get back. It's pretty hard, Test cricket bowling.
"Whether my body allows me, I will be doing everything I possibly can to get back there."
While Pattinson had the operation to help his chances of playing Tests again, he hopes to return for the domestic one-day series in September.
New Zealand quick Shane Bond successfully recovered from the same operation, where wires are inserted to strengthen the area of the stress fracture and a bone graft from his hip is also used.
"It's feeling good, and so far so good, but I will probably tell more once I start bowling off my full run.
"The surgeon said it wasn't that major but it felt pretty major.
"Once (Bond) came back, it felt like he had a bit of concrete stuck in his back. So I think there's all that to look forward to but I think the main thing is probably not trying for too much early on."
Pattinson added he would aim for as much recovery as possible.
"When there are opportunities to have a bit of a rest, put my feet up and go again, rather than trying to bowl all year round," he said.
In the short term, Pattinson wants to return to playing for Victoria and enjoying his cricket again.
He and his wife will also become first-time parents in October, meaning a likely break for him at the start of the Shield season.
His latest layoff meant losing his Cricket Australia contract but he says that was no surprise.
"I probably expected it, I suppose I haven't really played much cricket for Australia over the two years," he said.
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