Kyrgios will also use his mum Nill's home-made chilli beef as ''some extra fire'' before he starts his debut campaign against world No.81 Benjamin Becker.

A year after winning the Australian Open boys' title and being too nervous to share the locker room with idol Roger Federer, Kyrgios feels at home among the world's elite in Melbourne.

But the big-serving 18-year-old was on an emotional roller-coaster when a shoulder injury forced him to withdraw from tournaments in Brisbane and Sydney and threatened to ruin his summer.

''It was really tough, it was pretty shattering to not be able to play and I've been quite emotional over the last couple of weeks with not knowing how my shoulder was going to be,'' Kyrgios said.

''Right now I'm in a better head space because I'm healthy and ready to play.

''I had those thoughts that [I'd missed my Australian Open chance], my shoulder really didn't feel back to 100 per cent until a couple of days ago. I cut it fine.

''But I had to keep believing that I would be ready because if I didn't I wouldn't have got there.''

The former boys' world No.1 was granted a wildcard by Tennis Australia.

Kyrgios' preparation was hampered by an elbow injury to end 2013 and a painful shoulder problem, but he won't need surgery and is setting his sights high for the Australian Open.

It will be his third grand slam after he made his debut at the French Open last year and qualified for the US Open.

The former Daramalan College student is intent on ''doing some damage'' in the draw and his first challenge is taking on German Becker.

It's the first chance Kyrgios has to play senior matches in front of his extended family.

His parents drove to Queensland for the Brisbane International, but Kyrgios pulled out before the start of the tournament and returned to Melbourne.

He will have a travelling army of almost 20 people for round one and is staying in an apartment with his family.

Most will be wearing ''Team Kyrgios'' shirts.

''It's good having everyone down here, you can just live normally,'' Kyrgios said.

''Yeah, you embrace the pressure and the hype, but you have to distract yourself as well.

''I'm definitely starting to think about the match a bit more and there's a bit of nerves and excitement which get stronger each day,'' he said.

''I've been thinking about this for a while now and I just want to get out there and have my shot.''

Kyrgios has had a massive rise in rankings in the past 12 months and will join Australia's Davis Cup team in France at the end of January.

He has moved up more than 650 places to be inside the top 200, upset former world No.8 Radek Stepanek in his grand slam debut at the French Open and played his first Davis Cup tie.

''The expectation to perform is high and it's crazy in Australia at the moment,'' Kyrgios said.

''But this is a good chance to show what we can do and hopefully get some good results.

''The more you try to avoid that expectation is when it affects you the most. You have to embrace the pressure and just do whatever you can to overcome it.''

Kyrgios got valuable match practice against world No.33 Fernando Verdasco at Kooyong last week while Becker has not made it past the second round of the Open in six appearances.