Fast bowler Jason Gillespie is confident of being fit for this month's limited overs tour of India despite being ruled out of Friday's second cricket Test against Zimbabwe through a side strain.

Gillespie will miss the Sydney Test after breaking down late on day three in Perth after feeling tightness in his left side.

The 28-year-old said the injury was not as serious as a similar tear that cost him months out of the game in 1996-97 and that he was confident of bowling within a week.

He said he expected to be fit enough for the four-week tour of India, starting late October, where Australia will play a triangular limited overs tournament against India and Zimbabwe.

"I'm very confident I'll be in India because I was speaking to (chairman of selectors) Trevor Hohns yesterday and I was saying I was keen to make myself available for the Test match in Sydney," he said.

"There is a slight chance I'll be bowling by the Test match but I won't have any bowling behind me and there's a greater risk of injury if I haven't done any bowling prior to the Test and just rock up and play."

Gillespie, who took 3-52 in Zimbabwe's first innings and then 2-6 before he broke down, said he was disappointed not to help his teammates complete an innings victory.

"But what can you do? You can analyse it over and over and try and come up with reasons or you can just get on with the job of rehab and try to come back as quick as you can," he said.

"It was hard watching the boys out there bowling knowing I could have been out there contributing but yeah, I'm sure there's people worse off than me in the world."

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