Bernard Tomic is aware he is potentially playing for a top 16 Australian Open seeding at this week's Brisbane International, where the world No.18 is seeking to make a typically productive start to what he hopes will end as a single-digit rankings year.
The withdrawal of ninth-ranked Richard Gasquet with a back injury has given Tomic a sniff of what would be a debut entry into the top 16 bracket that would spare him a Melbourne Park meeting with the likes of Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger Federer until at least the fourth round. He reached that stage of his home grand slam for the second time last   January, before losing to Tomas Berdych. 
"With Gasquet pulling out of the Australian Open, I know I'm borderline if I make a semi to be 16th seed for the Australian Open, so I think that's a huge thing," said Tomic, who has drawn French veteran Nicolas Mahut in the opening round at the Queensland Tennis Centre.
"So I have to do well this week, win some matches, and to have the chance to maybe make the final will be huge, and maybe then more confidence into the Australian Open will be a different thing for me."
Another strong showing in Melbourne would also enhance Tomic's goal of attaining the top-10 position he is chasing in the coming months. The Australian is coming off his best season, winning 40 matches including a third career ATP title in Colombia in   July, having started it ranked 78th.
"Very happy, very pleased," said Tomic, 23. "Felt like I could have done a little bit better, maybe reached the top 12, 13, but can't regret anything, played a very good year and now it's obviously there the next few months where I've got the possibility to crack the top 10. But it's a long way away, I have to stay focused and I have to play good tennis.
"The players in the top tennis now - the top four, top eight - are very strong players and it's about beating them consistently each week and making deep runs into tournaments and beating these top players. To get your spot there in the top 10 you have to earn it. So the next few months we shall see. I'll try my best."
Tomic, who reversed an initial decision to skip the IPTL by accepting a late call-up for the final stages of the Indian Aces' campaign, said he had benefited from a slightly different approach to his preparation and to tournament play in 2015, as well as some new-found maturity.
"It's very tough when you you're young growing up and playing very good tennis and being in the spotlight it's very easy to get distracted," he said. "But I think once you put those things aside and focus on the things you truly want I think that's when your focus leads you to the right direction.
"I'm becoming more disciplined, more happy with myself, which is an important thing, and the important thing in tennis for me is you've got to stay online and focus what I truly want and that's to become as best as I can be in tennis. The serve's gotten a lot better this year. Percentage-wise I'm very very high up in percentage, and I've been hitting my forehand very well on the right balls, and not rushing into points, taking the decision on the wrong point."