Western Force recruit Zac Lomax says his Super Rugby Pacific debut still remains a "day by day" proposition as he readies his body for his code switch.
The former Test, NSW State of Origin and NRL star signed with the Perth club earlier this month, having lost his Supreme Court battle to join the Melbourne Storm after walking out on Parramatta.
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But there is no firm timeline for him to make his rugby union debut, with the 26-year-old still waiting to train with his Force teammates who have been on the road in New Zealand for the past three rounds and are now on time off with a bye.
Lomax said not only was he making a return to the code he only played as a youngster, but he'd also been sidelined since quitting the Eels last year and needed to increase his workload in his own pre-season.
"It's a tough one, it's just sort of day by day, and I've been out of the game for a period of time and I've learned as much as I can each day." Lomax said in Perth on Tuesday.
"And also the last game I played was the start of September so it's been five or six months and I'm just trying to get the legs back underneath me while at the same time not wanting to go out there and do a soft tissue injury, to put me out for a period of time.
"I'm playing it day by day but hopefully will get out there sooner rather than later."
Set to line up on the wing or at fullback, Lomax said learning the intricacies of the ruck in rugby and the code's positional play were his priorities as he targeted selection for the Wallabies in next year's Rugby World Cup.
Lomax would not confirm rumours he'd debut in the home game against the Chiefs on Saturday, March 28, saying the call would come from Force coach Simon Cron.
"I'm not exactly sure when Crony's thinking," he said.
"It's just too hard to speculate and say, 'This is when I will be on' or not, but for me, I want to play yesterday ... and even just be a part of some team training. I haven't been part of it for a period of time.
"I guess I'll be going underdone a fair bit and trying to close the gap the best I can."
