When he returns to the Australian Steelers lineup for the four-nations tournament in the United States in May it will have been almost six months between games.

But the forced injury break could turn out to be the best thing to happen to the Port Macquarie product ahead of Tokyo 2020.

"I wasn't happy with them when they told me," he said.

"I was a bit p*ssed off at them to be honest, but now I understand what they wanted me to do. It's been much needed and I feel so refreshed now."

Part of the reason Australian officials told the Steelers captain to take some time off was a concern an injury he had wasn't getting any better.

By continuing to play, he would have made it worse.

"I needed to wake up to myself, listen to the coaches and take a couple of months away from the sport," Batt said.

"I haven't taken a break this big in the 15 years I've been playing the sport, but now I'm ready to go full steam into Tokyo in August next year."

Batt said the first couple of months were "tough" because it was unchartered territory.

"It's something I'm not used to so the first couple of months I really did struggle not training every day and having something to strive for every day," he said.

The 29-year-old has only now started to "snap into holiday mode and enjoy family a bit more", but he knows that won't last.

However, the benefits far outweigh the negatives.

"I do enjoy training; it's part of my life and what I've done for 15 years and as much as it's going to hurt I've got to muscle up and deal with it," he said.

The two-time Paralympic gold medallist had hoped to return to the court in Melbourne against New Zealand in three weeks.

However, the injury hasn't quite fully healed yet.

"The next comp after that is in May back in America which will involve the top four teams in the world so I've got to be fit for then and it will be a good test for me," he said.

"I've got to be patient, realistic and long-term is Tokyo and that's what matters now.

"If I have to sit out a couple more months and not play, it's part of repairing and I've got to be sensible about it."

Batt was an interested viewer of the Steelers trip to the United States recently from the comfort of his lounge room.

"I'm ready to come back now because it was tough looking at the results of the boys over in America playing without me being the captain," he said.

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