Formerly Australia’s fastest footballer, Waratahs winger Lachie Turner says he has been given a 98 per cent chance of regaining top speed after recovering from a long-term injury.

The Wallaby speedster tore his hamstring from the bone in a trial match against Samoa last February.

Turner is eyeing a return to the Waratahs in Saturday week’s Super Rugby clash against the Brumbies and will further push his claim when he plays his second week back in club rugby this weekend.

The 25-year-old flyer, who won a sprint between various football codes in 2010, is adamant the injury and lengthy absence won’t have any lingering affects in relation to his speed.

“I wouldn’t say I’m as fast as I was prior to the injury, but I’m certainly stronger,” Turner said.

“But that speed will definitely come and it’s just a matter of getting the kilometres under my legs and building that endurance and speed endurance back up.

“Its just a matter of how long it takes now and I’m pretty confident I’ll have it back by that Brumbies game and, if not by then, soon after.

“The doctor spoke to me and said ‘a 98 per cent chance you’ll get back to where you were before if not better’.”

NSW five-eighth Berrick Barnes hopes the large contingent of returning Wallabies will transfer the winning touch from the series against Wales to a Waratahs team that has lost their past six matches.

“Whether that comes to fruition in the next two weeks remains to be seen – we’ve got to do the walking really,” Barnes said.

“You can talk about it as much as you want but we’ve done nothing until we actually prove it in a blue jersey.”