The British number one has been hampered with a shoulder injury since September's US Open.

He played through the pain in the Davis Cup win over Thailand in the same month but underwent surgery four weeks ago in a bid to clear up the complaint.

"It's possible for him to play. It wasn't real damage they found in his shoulder - it was just scar tissue," Antoniades told BBC Sport Online.

"His rehab has been going really well. Tim trains very well."

Antoniades was the man responsible for getting Henman fit, against expectations, for Britain's Davis Cup tie against Thailand in September - and he sees encouraging parallels now.

"What Tim managed in the eight days before that tie, we didn't think was possible," said Antoniades.

"To get him to a point where he could play three games in three days shows that he has amazing recovery powers.

"But I won't know for certain until I see him next week."

Henman optimistic

On Thursday Henman said: "I'm just going to do everything I can to get ready as quickly as possible.

"If I'm not ready I'm not ready, it's as simple as that. But I stress that I'm very optimistic and positive of being fit."

After the Australian Open, Henman will then faces a Davis Cup tie against Australia.

The Australians are reportedly planning to play the tie on clay - the weakest surface for Henman and team-mate Greg Rusedski.

But Henman is confident he can lift his game on any surface.

"I would be surprised if they didn't play us on clay," he said.

"Obviously with the way my game has improved so much on clay in the last couple of years, I'd certainly go into that with pretty positive expectations on myself.

"But we also appreciate it's going to be a tough match playing Australia away from home with Lleyton Hewitt obviously at the top of his game.

"But if we can be fit and healthy then I think it has the prospect of a great match."

Adelaide snub

The Briton is unclear where and when he will return to competitive action on the ATP Tour but he has already ruled out playing in an early season tournament in Adelaide.

"That was never going to be a part of my schedule because it starts on the 30th [of December] and I'd made the decision 12 months ago that I wanted to have a Christmas at home," he said.

"Then I was going to play the (Kooyong) exhibition in Melbourne before the Australian Open, so that still is very much the plan."