Tom Kohler-Cadmore has declared himself "really happy" with the condition of his shoulder after undergoing recent surgery.
The Worcestershire batsman is continuing his rehab work at New Road while his team-mates are in Abu Dhabi undergoing a pre-season camp.
Kohler-Cadmore is confident he will be "there or thereabouts" in terms of being fit for the start of the 2017 campaign.
He suffered the setback during the winter when playing a T20 match in Australia for Toronto WC when attempting a big hit via a full swing of the bat.
Kohler-Cadmore said: "The rehab is going really well. I'm doing some catching today and the shoulder itself feels really fine.
"I've got pretty much my full range of movement back and Ben Davies (first team physio) is really happy with it.
"Fingers crossed, I should be there or thereabouts for the start of the season.
"When they get back from Abu Dhabi, I will be able to start batting and then it's just kind of the fielding stuff like diving where they will protect it a little bit more.
"Whether I will be able to play in a pre-season game and not field, I don't know. That's up to the people above me."
Kohler-Cadmore is side-lined at a time when players are pushing to impress Director Of Cricket Steve Rhodes in the battle for places at the start of the season.
But the former Malvern College pupil is also thankful the timing of the setback means he will not miss a large chunk of the season.
He said: "You can see it that way (being at a frustrating time) or you can see you've done it at a time which means you are not missing too much of the season.
"I shouldn't be too far off and in my eyes the worst case scenario is I start off in the second team but that will be kind of my pre-season period if I am starting in the second team.
"That scenario would mean I'll be a couple of weeks behind everyone else but, if it does happen that way, then I'll have a good white ball focus leading into my 50 over stuff which is early doors this year.
"If I miss the first couple of games, it won't be ideal and I'd love to be playing but if I do, it's not the end of the world. It's not like I'm missing a big block of the season."
