For the first time in a long time, NSW paceman Doug Bollinger will start the summer with a full pre-season to his name.

Bollinger, the forgotten man in Australia’s injury-beset fast-bowling stocks, is now free of the niggling aches that come with his trade and feels he has the stamina and fitness to send down long spells with the red ball.

Oddly enough, the left-armer has a recurrent hamstring injury and a “really horrible summer” to thank.

Bollinger, whose most recent outing for Australia came during a one-day international in South Africa last October, had his 2011/12 campaign derailed by injury.

With the exception of two Twenty20 fixtures and 11 overs in a tour game, Bollinger failed to take the field last season after first tweaking his hamstring at the Gabba in November.

Having played just six Indian Premier League games since then, it was no surprise Australia’s national selectors overlooked him for tours to England and the United Arab Emirates.

For the 31-year-old, it was a welcome change to the more nomadic life he was used to living in Australia’s winter.

“Having a 13 or 16 week pre-season in NSW has been great. The training’s been really, really hard, but really enjoyable,” Bollinger said on Wednesday.

“I think it’s the first full pre-season I’ve had in about four years.

“Getting all the aches and pains out – just getting my wrist right and bowling well. I’m swinging the ball at the moment, which is good.”

Bollinger has been battling suggestions his fitness is not up to Test standard since his last Test – Australia’s ill-fated loss to England at Adelaide Oval in 2010.

Finally, he senses he might be able to put them to bed.

“Definitely (my stamina is now as good as it possibly can be) … I’m getting through a lot of overs pretty well and that’s all I need,” he said.

“I’ve been pretty fit, but being this fit – it’s been a while to be honest and that’s why I feel so good, and that’s what I needed.

“Just a good solid pre-season, a solid base for the start of the season and hopefully it pays off.”

Bollinger will spearhead the Michael Clarke-captained NSW attack in the Sheffield Shield opener against Western Australia, which starts on Tuesday.