Bermuda?s top tennis player James Collieson is heading to the Australian Open next month ? as a coach and hitting partner.

Collieson, working full-time as a coach in Bermuda, will assist long-time friend Stephen Huss, a finalist in the doubles at the XL Open this year, in his preparation for the year?s first Grand Slam.

Collieson, who has long said he is a ?better hitting partner than player?, will head down to Melbourne Park to work with Huss and his girlfriend ? the Venezuelan number one.

?I think it will a good opportunity for me,? said Collieson, whose young dream of making it as a professional on the circuit has now all but died.

?For the XL I have always acted as a hitting partner for the guys down here and I know Stephen pretty well and so I offered to go down there and help out.

?It is a good opportunity for me to go to the Australian Open and help out. I have been to Wimbledon before to do a similar thing and this is another great chance.?

Huss, who alongside partner Ashley Fisher went down 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 to Jordan Kerr and Tom Vanhoudt in this year?s XL doubles final, has been ranked as high as 63 in the world before, although currently stands at 107.

He will get help from Collieson, a qualified coach, as both a hitting partner and in some coaching aspects in Australia ? a job Collieson has been looking to go into full-time for years.

He touts himself as a hitting partner every year at the XL and still harbours hopes of turning that role into a profession on the circuit where practice partners are always needed.

?It would be great work,? continued Collieson.

?You get all the benefits without any of the pressure of competition.?

Working at Ariel Sands, Collieson is currently coaching adults and juniors but is continuing to keep his hand in on the playing side, liberally winning tournaments throughout the summer in Bermuda in singles and doubles, alongside the powerful Andy Bray.

He admits that working as a coach is somewhat stifling his own progress as a player but he is keen to once again take up a wildcard place at the XL, if it is offered, and will play for Bermuda again next year in the Davis Cup and the Small Island Games, if a team is sent.

?I am never going to do anything spectacular in the XL if I am working here as a coach in the months beforehand. Just having the occasional knock between coaching sessions isn?t going to be enough to take my game on. I?d really have to go off Island for a few months for that to happen.

?But that is a little unrealistic, so I am just going to prepare as best I can and try and go into the event and put in a good performance.

?It is nice for a Bermudian to be in the XL, so I would love to have another go if I get the chance.?