World surfing No.2 Sally Fitzgibbons says she’s on track to be fit for the opening tour event of the year next month on the Gold Coast.

Fitzgibbons is carrying several injuries but, a month out from the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks, the NSW south coast product is confident she’s timing her recovery well.

The 21-year-old is nursing a fractured wrist and strapping along her left leg.

Fitzgibbons fell awkwardly on the reef while surfing Cloudbreak in Fiji before Christmas, and knee and foot injuries were also sustained during training.

“I guess leading into the new season, I do look a little battered and bruised. It’s unfortunate but injuries are part of the game,” said Fitzgibbons, who finished third at last year’s Roxy Pro.

“There isn’t much time left but I’m very confident of recovering in the next week or so and I will have a good few weeks’ lead-up into the first event.

“I just fell on the reef surfing at Cloudbreak and fractured my wrist and the knee is basically sustained injuries from training. It was just through finding that balance of how hard to push it in the pre-season as you want to build that great base and, unfortunately, I tipped over the edge but I’m still learning.”

After two runners-up finishes in the past two years, Fitzgibbons feels ready to break through for her maiden world title, but is preparing for a massive challenge not only from the established front-runners but a bunch of determined rookies.

“I feel like I’m gaining more strength and becoming more comfortable on tour and, hopefully, it’s onwards and upwards as I have so much I want to improve on this year,” she said.

“Obviously, Carissa (Moore) being the reigning world champion and Steph (Gilmore) as four-time world champion will always be there, but I think this year there’ll be a major push from the new rookies.”