Mortlock underwent back surgery in May which ruled him out of national selection for this year but the 32-year-old, who will play for the Melbourne Rebels in next year's expanded Super rugby competition, remains focused on regaining his fitness and forcing his way back into the Test line-up.

"The injury's going really well and that's where I'm focused at the moment," he said on Tuesday.

"That's going really well and the next port of call for me will be to get training ... and down the track we'll see." Mortlock said he's back running and hoped to be able to start full training by the start of December.

"I definitely want to give myself some good lead-in time to the trials next year and be part of those," he said. The former Brumby said he wasn't concerned about running out of time ahead of next year's World Cup in New Zealand, to be held in September-October.

"Not at all although I did have a sentimental moment leading up to the Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney because it's a year out from the World Cup," he said.

"That was when I saw the surgeon that week as well, who said I could start running so it was a very good week for me personally.

"I'm focused on helping the Rebels go as well as possible and I think on the back of the extended Super season, it's a great opportunity for anybody to show their wares and put their hands up for the squad next year." He thought there were some "real positive signs" about the current Wallabies although they had been let down by their losses in tight matches.

"But you can definitely see them improving and that's a great thing," he said. Mortlock said he'd had the blinkers on regarding this week's Test selection for the spring tour.

"I haven't looked to be honest because I want to be quite insular about what's going on at the moment, and that's being focused on rehabilitating my injury."

Mortlock has moved his wife and three children to Melbourne and spent the past month soaking up the AFL fervour in the sport's heartland.

Rather than being intimidated by the challenge of his new Super Rugby outfit finding a market, Mortlock said he was excited.

"It's made me see just how passionate Melbourne people are to get behind their team so I'm very excited by that," he said.

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