Australian two-time Grand Slam runner-up Mark Philippoussis, idle since undergoing right knee surgery in January, plans to make a return to the ATP Tour next season.

But the 30-year-old Aussie once known as "Scud" for his rocket-like serves, has not played an elite-level match since being hurt last December in Perth at the Hopman Cup and knows he faces a difficult road back to top form.

"I love the sport of tennis. I miss the game. In my heart, I do believe I can do it," Philippoussis said. "To make that happen, I need to work hard. It's going to be a long, long way back."

Philippoussis has dropped to 457th in the rankings after having reached ninth in the world in April of 1999.

With hopes of being ready for the Australian Open tune up events in January, Philippoussis has turned to Gil Reyes, Andre Agassi's former fitness trainer, in order to help revive his career.

"My knee is doing great. It's 100 percent now," Philippoussis said. "But I've had to take care of my back. I haven't worked out the way I wanted to. I wasn't physically enough good enough to play."

Philippoussis, who has won 11 ATP titles and was runner-up in the 1998 US Open and Wimbledon in 2003, will test his level at a 30-and-over Champions Tour event next month in Dallas.

"What I'd love to do is start playing a couple of small events at the end of the year, get match fit and concentrate on getting back next year, hopefully at theAustralian," he said.