Phil Jaques is targeting a recall by Australia after the opening batsman joined up with Worcestershire for a third spell for the 2010 campaign.

Jaques has played 11 Tests and scored a century in his last innings for his country against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 2008.

Since then he has been overlooked and also been laid low by back problems.

But the 30-year-old came through the domestic season with New South Wales with no injury setbacks and is hoping a successful spell the Royals will help him earn a recall to the international fold.

Jaques told Press Association Sport: "Last summer back home, I played every game for New South Wales. I was the only one to do that which was a good achievement in itself in a long season.

"It is very exciting to be back fit and hopefully I can really pile on the runs over here this year.

"I wouldn't be playing cricket if I didn't have ambitions and my ambition is to get back to the highest level you can achieve - and that is playing for Australia. That is why I am here. That is why I chose here rather than the Indian Premier League.

"I wanted to play county cricket, get some volume of games in and hopefully get back into the Australian side. That is the goal ahead."

Jaques admitted: "It was a bit of a weird feeling to score a 100 in my last Test and then not play again.

"But I know I can play at that level and right now it is about knocking on the door hard enough and getting the runs on the board I need and waiting for an opportunity.

"The guys who have been playing, Simon Katich and Shane Watson, have been outstanding. They have probably been our best two batsmen over the last 12 months along with Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting.

"It is very hard to get back into that team. But I've got to go back to the drawing board, score lots of runs ands wait for an opportunity.

"I will be looking to get back to converting decent scores into hundreds and I hope I can do that at Worcestershire. The body has held up. I have had no injury problems and the back is getting stronger by the day."

Worcestershire have had to rebuild after the loss of experienced performers Simon Jones, Kabir Ali, Steve Davies, Stephen Moore and Gareth Batty at the end of last season.

Financial restraints also meant the Royals also trimmed around £300,000 off their playing budget for the 2010 campaign.

But director of cricket Steve Rhodes insisted: "There has been a determination to show that life goes on at this club. You look around the dressing room and, yes, there are some gaps.

"Some quality players have left the club, there is no mistakes about that, but it's amazing what you can do with guys who know their role well, who fit in well with each other and satisfy the needs of the team.

"That is what we will be working on. You look at sides who have done well and on paper you would say they were 'lesser sides' and on paper you wouldn't give them a chance.

"But once out there, they seem to pull together and that's what our dressing room want to achieve."

Click here to find out the Moments, Partnerships and Overs that changed the games in the India T20 tournament. Also enter the contest to win free Tata Photon Plus. Hurry!!!

Buy a pack of Castrol & Win a Free* trip to South Africa and watch 2010 FIFA World Cup live