Warne hopes to bowl off a full run early this week and be playing for Victoria in early November.

Warne underwent surgery on his right shoulder in may and his fitness has been feverishly examined ahead of the ashes series against England starting next month.

Warne is expected to miss the opening two Tests of the five-Test series. But he played his first full match since surgery at the weekend and, while he did not bowl, scored 109 not out for club side St Kilda against Melbourne.

Warne did manage three overs in practice at an indoor net near the Melbourne cricket ground last week.

Despite an injection to help relieve stiffness in the shoulder on Sunday, Warne said he was hopeful of bowling off a full run in the nets as early as Wednesday.

``It's really exciting to be able to get back in there and bowlagain,'' said Warne. Regarded as the world's best leg spinner, Warne, 29, has taken 313 Test wickets.

He told reporters he hoped to be in the Victorian side in the Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales starting November 4, depending on the state of his shoulder.

Victoria state coach John Scholes said Warne was improving quickly after watching him bowl late last week.

``He's gone from getting his arm over in a slow rotation to now (having) a genuine, quick rotation,'' Scholes said.

Warne, however, is taking it step by step. ``If I pull up okay the next day after bowling (on Wednesday), then hopefully I will be all right to play in the shield game,'' he said.

Warne will be crucial to the outcome of the ashes series if he plays. England captain Alec Stewart says he is looking forward to the challenge.

``Warney is the best spin bowler probably the game has ever seen,'' Stewart said after the team's arrival. ``I hope he is fit to play in this series.''

Warne said England should forget abouthim and concentrate on their own preparations.

``On every tour, the captains always say we're going to win we want to play at full strength and we don't want any excuses,'' Warne said.

``If I was Alec Stewart and the England team, I'd look to be competitive and try to win. I don't really think it matters who's playing. It's Australia V England, that's the bottom line. I still think it is the best series to be involved in, there's still something a bit special.''

Australia have held the Ashes for the past nine years.

England play their first match against the Australian Cricket Board's XI at Lilac Hill in Perth on Thursday.