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BRISBANE - Australia's Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations decider isn't on Chris Latham's radar but the Wallabies fullback hasn't ruled himself out of a stunning test return against the All Blacks on July 21.
Latham completed an impressive comeback from a knee reconstruction three months faster than normal when
he played 40 minutes in the Queensland Premier competition on Saturday.
The 72-test dynamo scored a try, set up another and looked dangerous each time he touched the ball in the Gold Coast Breakers' 54-5 thumping of Norths-QUT.
Latham will now ramp up his return by going into camp with the Wallabies this week before playing 60 minutes for the Breakers in their major semifinal against minor premier GPS at Ballymore on Sunday.
He felt a strong showing could have him ready to play New Zealand at Eden Park the following week but said he needed to make a significant improvement.
"To be honest I know I don't feel ready at the moment," Latham said.
"That may change in the next week but I just feel I won't do the jersey justice.
"To be a part of a winning Bledisloe and Tri-Nations, who wouldn't want to be part of that, but it comes down to the respect of the jersey and your teammates and I don't think I could do that."
Latham remains the only missing piece in the Wallabies' backline puzzle for the World Cup, with Julian Huxley filling the No 15 jersey until the Queenslander returns.
Australia assistant coach Michael Foley said Latham would be a definite inclusion in the Wallabies' squad this week.
"He spent some time with the squad in Melbourne [last week] and he was frustrated by the fact that he was running around training," he said.
"But he looked great and you thought, 'Gee, well this guy mustn't be far off'.
"We've got a week's grace and it will be interesting to see how he responds to that [club] game."
Despite being "the most nervous I've felt in my life", the 2006 IRB player of the year nominee looked as fit, fast and as strong as ever playing at suburban Kalinga.
"Tests say that I'm nearly there," Latham said.
"But a 40m straight-line sprint is one thing. It's not often you run 40m straight. It's all about getting your timing and getting your game speed.
Latham's test and Reds teammate Greg Holmes also made a successful comeback on Saturday, playing a half in Sunnybank's 41-14 win over Easts in a late World Cup bid.
Holmes, the first-choice loosehead prop last year, was forced to rush his return from shoulder surgery with Matt Dunning and Benn Robinson poised for selection in the Wallabies 30-man squad to be chosen on July 23.
He hopes to further his claim through the club finals series, starting when the Dragons play Wests in a knockout playoff on Sunday.
"I was pretty happy with the way the shoulder held up," Holmes said yesterday.
"It's going to be hard be selected with the guys playing well but I have to give it a go."
- AAP
