Wales centre Jonathan Davies targets return for tour

Jonathan Davies, Wales and Scarlets centre

Jonathan Davies is confident he will recover from injury to make Wales' three-Test series against the Wallabies in Australia in June.

The Wales and Scarlets centre has been out of action with a sports hernia injury since the start of April.

"Personally, I feel pretty positive," said Davies.

Wales will be without Jamie Roberts (knee) and Scott Williams (shoulder) has also been struggling ahead of the four-match summer tour.

Centre Davies has been sidelined since he captained the Scarlets in their victory over Aironi in the Pro12 but he has been on a comprehensive rehabilitation programme.

Grand Slam centre Roberts has undergone surgery and is not expected to be fit until October.

Williams, who scored Wales' winning try against England during the Six Nations, suffered his injury against Cardiff Blues in March.

However, Davies' optimism will be welcomed by Wales, who have midfield options in aspiring Osprey Ashley Beck and the versatile James Hook while powerful wing George North could also switch positions.

Davies, 24, who was part of Wales' 2012 Grand Slam-winning campaign, admits he is more positive about making the summer tour than he was a few weeks ago.

"I am doing my rehab and everything they tell me to and, hopefully, I can get back and train in a couple of weeks," he said.

"A couple of weeks ago, I was in a pretty bad way. It has settled down nicely and the medical attention I am getting is fantastic.

"I am being montitored week by week and I have the best medical care I can have.

"They are just giving it time to settle down and hopefully I will be fit but I am playing it by ear at the moment."

The Scarlets star's return to fitness would be a major boost for Wales' hopes of success in Australia, where they have only won once, in 1969.

Wales last beat Australia in Cardiff in 2008.

Davies has already targeted a victory in the first Test against the Wallabies at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on 9 June.

"We have to look at that first Test and start with a bang," said Davies. "It will be a huge game and a real decider on how the series will go.

"We have to make sure we are ready and well prepared for that first Test."

Robert Howley has been appointed as caretaker coach for the tour after Warren Gatland, the Wales head coach, was ruled out after he fractured both his heels in a fall in his native New Zealand.