Canberra teenager Nick Kyrgios will back his ability to win a last-minute qualifying tournament for the Australian Open and coach Simon Rea is confident the rising star can impress if he makes his home grand slam debut.
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Rea also revealed Kyrgios' elbow injury will have to be regularly monitored to ensure the big-serving 18-year-old isn't forced out of action for an extended period.
Kyrgios will miss the Australian Open play-off in Melbourne, which starts on Monday, after aggravating an elbow problem that has limited his match time since October.
Kyrgios can still earn a spot at the Australian Open if he wins the qualifying tournament in the week before the first grand slam begins.
Tennis Australia selectors can offer him a discretionary wildcard.
Kyrgios and Rea were given no assurances by officials that Kyrgios will be offered a wildcard.
But it's almost impossible for selectors to ignore Kyrgios after a boom rise this year which has seen him jump from world No.838 to No.187 this year.
''My understanding is Nick's injury isn't severe or career threatening, but it's something that will have to be monitored,'' Rea said.
''With the appropriate plan in place, we think he will overcome it.
''One way or the other, Nick will do really well. If he's lucky enough to be handed a wildcard, then great.
''Otherwise I've got every bit of confidence the young man can win this way through qualifying the same way he did in New York at the US Open.
Kyrgios played in two grand slams this year - the French and US Opens.
He also made his Davis Cup debut alongside Lleyton Hewitt and Bernard Tomic.
But his year was cut short when he injured his elbow and had to end his season in the United States.
The Australian Open play-off would have increased his workload to a week of five-set tennis.
Rea said it was safer for Kyrgios to take the ''cautious route'' and give his elbow time to recover.
Kyrgios will continue fitness training in Melbourne until Christmas.
He will have one day to rest before flying to Queensland for the Brisbane International.
''Nick's in the hands of the Tennis Australia selectors, he could have played this week,'' Rea said.
''We've made a call that's probably on the conservative side, but it's a call that's best for his long-term interests.
''There's been more irritation as his training loads increase, but we're pretty confident it's at the minor end of the scale.''
Kyrgios has proved he is a star of the future.
He won a US Open spot when he romped through the qualifying before running into world No.3 David Ferrer in the opening round.
