Wallabies flanker David Pocock is well on the road to recovery © Getty Images

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Matches: Australia 68 - 22 Russia

Players/Officials: Robbie Deans | Matt Giteau | David Pocock

Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup

Teams: Australia | Russia

Australia flanker David Pocock has revealed that he feels back to full fitness and is desperately hoping to play some part in Saturday's Rugby World Cup Pool C clash with Russia in Nelson.

Pocock was forced to pull out of the starting line-up for last Sunday week's defeat by Ireland after suffering a recurrence of a back problem and was not risked in Friday's meeting with the USA in Wellington. However, he expects to play a full part in training this week and, consequently, is praying for a recall from Wallabies head coach Robbie Deans for this weekend's game against the Bears.

"It's feeling good," Pocock said of his back. "I'm keen to get out there. It would be great to get some running in the legs and, yeah, I'm just keen to play.

"I've got through a fair bit of work the past couple of weeks just trying to settle it all down and do all the right things and then ran really well yesterday morning, so it should be full training this week. It all depends on Robbie and what the coaches are looking at for the Russians."

Pocock admitted having to sit helpless on the sidelines as the Wallabies slumped to a shock 15-6 loss to the Irish was a horrible experience.

"It was tough. I think it was tough for the whole group," he said. "You never want to lose those games and it was one that we really went in looking to win, but it just didn't happen on the night.

"It's put us in a tough position, but that's just something we've got to deal with - beat Russia and then move on and play South Africa in the quarters."

After bouncing back to winning ways by routing the USA on Friday, the Wallabies are expected to have even less trouble with the Russians, who have lost all three of their pool games to doubt. However, Pocock is not taking the World Cup newcomers lightly.

"I've seen all their games and they're a team with a lot of fight," he said. "They haven't obviously got the results they've been after but you can't fault their intensity, the way they fly into the tackle area. They scored a few good tries against Ireland as well on the weekend."