Melandri has responded well to treatment on his injuries

The Italian suffered neck, shoulder and arm injuries in the dramatic crash on the first corner of last week's race in Spain but has had physiotherapy.

"I'm keen to get back on the bike but I'll see how I am on Thursday," said the British-based Italian rider.

"I'm still in pain and getting pains in places I didn't notice before."

Team doctors have given him the green light to ride again, but he will undergo another medical examination after Thursday's free practice session.

Loris Capirossi, who was leading the championship until being forced out of last Sunday's race by the same crash, is also hopeful of racing at Assen.

He escaped with bruising and internal bleeding, but his Ducati team-mate Sete Gibernau faces a long time on the sidelines.

The Spaniard could be out for up to five weeks after surgery on his left collarbone, which included having to remove a metal plate from a previous fracture.