Rugby: Mortlock ready to try out his rebuilt back

Stirling Mortlock. Photo / Getty Images

As he prepares to play his first rugby match in eight months, Melbourne Rebels star Stirling Mortlock has warned the rest of his body still has some catching up to do with his rebuilt back.

Mortlock will make his long-awaited debut for the Super Rugby newcomers in a trial match against Fiji in Ballarat today.

The 33-year-old hasn't played since last May, when he was found to have a serious disc problem that needed back surgery soon after announcing his move from the Brumbies to the Rebels for this year.

Mortlock, who still harbours ambitions of breaking back into the Wallabies' set-up in time for the World Cup, is keen to clock up at least half a game against Fiji.

Thrilled with how his back feels, Mortlock believes once he reaches full fitness he will be a better player.

"I still feel as though my body has got a little way to go, but I'm very confident in the back," Mortlock said.

"[Before surgery] my right side was essentially not doing what I asked it to do.

"When my body is hopefully in tip-top shape, I'm hoping for it to be significantly better than it has been in a number of years.

"I have been out for a while and arguably when I was playing, I wasn't at full capacity. It's taking a while for my body to get back to where I want to be, but I've still got two weeks to get in shape before we start the Super series."

Mortlock hopes the Rebels' remaining two trial matches will get him to where he needs to be to play in their Super Rugby opener against the Waratahs at AAMI Park on February 18.

- AAP