The 25-year-old Osprey underwent surgery in the summer to resolve an injury to his left shoulder and missed the region’s Magners League opener in Ulster last weekend.
But if all goes to plan, Hook will soon have game time under his belt and could be back in Welsh colours when Warren Gatland’s men take on Australia at the Millennium Stadium on November 6.
“The shoulder feels a lot better. It’s still a bit stiff but I have full movement,” said Hook, who wasn’t considered for this evening’s Magners League game against Benetton Treviso.
“Firstly I want to get fit and back on the pitch. Hopefully I can get a few games under my belt before November. I’m still on track to return at the end of September or beginning of October.
“So it looks like the Scarlets away, which is ironic because that’s where I did my injury last Christmas. So that would be nice, and then there are two big Heineken Cup games, but obviously I don’t want to rush it.”
Hook was in superb form for both club and country last season, starring for the Ospreys on their way to Magners League glory and for Wales in the autumn internationals and Six Nations.
Having been moved to midfield by Wales coach Warren Gatland and Ospreys boss Scott Johnson, Hook excelled in the latter part of the season but missed Wales’ summer tour of New Zealand due to his injury.
The versatile former Neath man, who still harbours ambitions to play outside-half, expects to continue being used in the centre but is relishing playing under the IRB’s new law directives.
“Dan Biggar has done well at 10 so they are going to stick with him, that’s obvious really,” added Hook.
“But I’m happy as long as I’m fit, playing and giving myself a chance to play for Wales.
“The new directives open the game up to the attacking team more. It gives us a chance to play and it probably makes life a bit easier at 10.”
