Walker on target to start season

Walker wants his Ospreys form to lead to more Scotland honours

Ospreys wing Nikki Walker will be fit to start the new season after a long injury lay-off.

He had surgery after tearing a hamstring in December's Heineken Cup win over Treviso at Liberty Stadium.

The Scotland wing then had to watch as Ospreys team-mates Shane Williams and Tommy Bowe went on tour to South Africa with the British and Irish Lions.

"It's great for the Ospreys and for us as individual players to be competing for a place," said Walker.

"I'm happy to be back in training, I was out for six months, which is a pretty long time to be out of action, but I'm feeling pretty good at the moment and I'm enjoying being able to participate fully with the guys.

606: DEBATE Give your thoughts on the Ospreys

"It's always an exciting time for a professional sportsman, it's when optimism is at its highest and there's always a buzz about the place.

"That's especially the case this year, we've got new boys in who have brought a bit of a spark and Scott Johnson has changed a few things around as well so the atmosphere around the place is great.

"The possibility of getting back into the Scottish squad will be there but only if I've reached the required standards here at the Ospreys."

Walker believes Williams should have been in the Lions Test team sooner than the last Test - in which he scored two tries.

He [Shane Williams] should have been picked earlier [for the Lions Tests], but when he got the chance he really did make an impression Nikki Walker

"I thought Tommy had an exceptional tour, while Shane really showed what he is capable of in the final test," added Walker.

"I think he should have been picked earlier but when he got the chance he really did make an impression.

"There are plenty of matches and opportunities for us throughout the season but we know that we have to be at the top of our games if we want to involved in the big games.

"There's a possibility that we could all play together, it happened last season when Tommy played at 13, but I'm sure there are plenty of guys in the squad who would have something to say about it as they want that shirt themselves."