WATCH: SVG tight-lipped over Sandown chances

The injured Shane van Gisbergen is coy over his chances to get behind the wheel at this weekend's Penrite Oil Sandown SuperSprint. The Kiwi remains under an injury cloud heading to this weekend's event in the wake of surgery for a broken collarbone. Van Gisbergen went into surgery the day of his mountain biking accident and had a plate installed. At Sandown on Friday, a day before the event was scheduled to commence with Practice 1 at 9:20am, van Gisbergen sat inside his #97 for a final check. In a Red Bull Ampol Racing team preview, the 2016 series champion remained confident of his fitness as he looks to defend the championship lead he gained at the Bathurst season-opener.

Van Gisbergen leads the championship after Bathurst

A day before the Sandown event, he gave little away. When asked how his body was feeling, he replied, simply: "Not good." The 42-time race winner's Friday appearance came four days after he took to Queensland Raceway to steer a BMW M4. “I’m still a bit sore,” he said. “But after some laps in a couple of cars during the week, and with a few more days to recover before the first session at Sandown, hopefully I can be fit and ready to go.” The Repco Supercars Championship field will return to Victoria this weekend at the Penrite Oil Sandown SuperSprint. Tickets are on sale now. The event will be broadcast live on Foxtel and will be streamed on Kayo. Check out the full weekend schedule here.