Skelton is fighting fit ahead of tour

The 24-year-old picked up a serious pectoral muscle injury during last year's World Cup and he admitted that it has stifled his progress during 2016.

"I've had injuries before and for me, it's really a long process being a bigger guy coming back but I don't think I managed it well, coming back from last year," he told rugby.com.au.

"I tore my pec so I had maybe four weeks, six weeks in a sling and then getting back into things it was quite slow because I had to take my leave as well because I'd been away with the Wallabies for about nine weeks.

"So, I think the beginning of the year I started slow and then it's picking up now so I'm happy with where I'm at."

Skelton said a new diet has also helped his fitness levels since he rejoined the Wallaby camp back in June.

"Just eat less," he said.

"[I was] just eating at the wrong times and on days off, eating the same amount as what I'd eat in the same day training hard.

"It's not a major change but my body's felt really good and I'm looking forward to hopefully putting my hand up for some Tests.

"I wasn't in a good place during the Waratahs season and it helped me out in the Wallabies when I first came in, started this new diet and it's been working really well."

Wallaby head coach Michael Cheika has tried several combinations this year in the second row and Skelton admitted that it was tough not being the first choice for every Test.

"It's bittersweet," he said.

"You train hard with the boys every week and if you don't get picked you don't get picked but you're obviously very happy for guys like Cole [Adam Coleman] and Rory [Arnold], who's been killing it at the top level.

"As squad members, we'll just try and help them prepare the best they can for the tests and hopefully if we do that, we can put our hand up to get a start as well."

Source: rugby.com.au