Reigning MotoGP world champion is hoping the anti-clockwise nature of Phillip Island will help reduce the chatter problems he has been suffering with his Repsol Honda for most of the season.

The returning Repsol Honda man, who will race at his home track for the last time on a bike this weekend, is still far from fit but reckons the lack of sharp right-handers at the circuit will also help with his still-injured ankle.

"We've really struggled with the bike set up in the past two races and I'm pretty disappointed with this. We always seem to find our rhythm in Phillip Island but I don't expect it to come easily this year," said Stoner.

"Thankfully the track goes to the left and we're having a lot less issues with chatter when it goes this way. Also there aren't so many sharp turns so my right leg might be able to deal with it a little better. I'm still nowhere near 100% physically and I still need time to be back to full strength so I'm not really sure what to expect this weekend, we'll do our best and see what happens.”

Stoner very nearly didn't start the Malaysian GP last Sunday as he was afraid that a fall in the sopping wet conditions would further injure his already damaged ankle.

"I was considering not taking part in the rain at all as the risks were very high —if I had come off the bike again and hit my ankle, it would have been game over for the rest of the season."