Australian middle-distance Olympic medal hope Ryan Gregson says he’s tracking for a London Games qualifying time at a meet in Sydney later this month.

Gregson, who was ranked as high as fifth in the world in the 1500m before a spate of injuries that began 18 months ago, will use Saturday’s 800m run at the Briggs Athletics Classic in Hobart to finetune his assault on the Olympic 1500m qualifying time of 3 minutes, 35.5 seconds.

Gregson will be shooting for a 1:47 run in Hobart, which he says would prepare him for the 1:54 he needs to run for the first half of his 1500m on February 18.

“It’s just a good hit-out so the 1500s in the coming weeks feel a little easier,” the 21-year-old told AAP on Friday.

“It’s just to kind of put a bit of lactic in the legs.”

A sub 3:35.5 run in Sydney would have him joining Jeff Riseley, who Gregson beat in Adelaide last weekend, in qualifying for the 1500m in London.

“Collis Birmingham, our good 5000m runner, he’s in that race (in Sydney) and he’s in about 3:35 shape so it’s probably going to take a 3:34 run or a 3:35 to win it and that will be the qualifier so it’s the perfect place to do it,” Gregson said.

Foot and calf injuries have plagued the Wollongong runner in the 18 months since he broke the Australian 1500m record and rocketed to prominence.

He was forced to pull out of the 2010 Commonwealth Games and exited last year’s world championships at the semi-final stage after entering the event underdone.

“Touch-wood it’s starting to come round now,” he said.

“I’ve got a new strength program so I’m kind of going through every weak part of my body and making it stronger.

“The main thing I get confidence from is training and that’s what I’ve been able to do well over the last couple of months.”

Gregson says if the stars align for him in the Olympic year, he could fly under the radar at the Games.

“If everything goes right in the next six months and I’m around the mark at the Olympic Games, I could be a contender,” he said.

“I need everything to go right. I can’t afford another setback.

“If I do end up getting to the Olympics I’ll certainly be an underdog and I think that’s a good thing.

“I’ve had a bit of a quiet approach to this one and hopefully it will pay off.”

Gregson will be among several big names at Hobart’s Domain Athletics Centre for Saturday’s twilight meet.

Olympic qualifier Birmingham and national champion Ben St Lawrence will do battle in a high-quality 5000m field.