The world number two was on crutches after sustaining a bruised bone in her foot at the Hopman Cup in Perth earlier this month, and her chances of competing in the Grand Slam event which begins on Monday had looked slim.

But on Sunday she told reporters: "I have done everything I can do and I really want to give it a shot."

Clijsters, three times a losing grand slam finalist, is hoping to finally break through at the Australian Open.

While doctors have told the 20-year-old her foot will never completely heal and she may eventually require surgery, she has been told playing will not damage it further.

"It feels okay," she said. "I play with the tape and stuff and that is what I am going to have to do for a while now, I guess.

"I have been told I can't make it worse, so that's okay.

"You know, it is getting better. It is not 100 percent but it is getting better. You know, I have come here and I have decided to play.

"It wasn't a hard decision, I really want to play.

"If I thought I wouldn't be able to play seven matches then I would have pulled out, that is why I didn't play (the warm-up event) in Sydney.

"That wouldn't be fair to myself, to the fans, to anybody.

"But now I feel I am capable of playing all my matches if I get through. Today was my third practice session and everything feels okay.

"First of all I am happy about that. I am looking forward to my first match and that is all I am thinking about."

Clijsters is due to play Germany's Marlene Weingartner on Tuesday.