SIDELINED jockey Shane Scriven confesses the short supply of patience in his make-up has been severely tested as he fights what has been by far and away the toughest weight battle of his 30-year career.

Scriven has made many comebacks during his outstanding career, but he has been surprised and frustrated at how difficult this one has been.

The 46-year-old, who hasn't ridden since Ipswich Cup Day last June, has set himself a goal to shed enough weight to partner grand galloper Scenic Shot at the Randwick carnival and then in Brisbane, where he hopes to be aboard for a tilt at a third Doomben Cup.

"They would have to make a movie about if it came off and we won it again," he said.

"A pair of old crocks."

But the shedding of kilos has been harder than anticipated and he has had to reschedule his comeback date a number of times.

"I got back to 69kg (from a top of 73kg) quite easily but I have really struggled since," he said.

"Initially I aimed to be back by the Magic Millions carnival but I was still 68kg just before Christmas."

The slow recovery prompted Scriven to engage personal trainer Josh Mill in a last-gasp effort to make another return.

"It was pretty clear I needed some help and Josh has been great for me," Scriven said.

"We are ticking every box and I feel a lot healthier than I have in the past. It's just a matter of seeing the results now. Typical me, I want to drop it straight away because time is something I don't have."

In the past month Mill has engaged a naturopath, ordered extensive blood tests to determine the best way forward and changed Scriven's diet, which previously consisted of near starvation, with only one meal a day.

"We have really tapped into his diet and have him eating six meals a day," Mill said.

"That doesn't mean big meals - for instance an apple would be equal to one meal - but letting your body go 16 hours without fuel is not healthy. We want him healthy at 60kg, where it's no effort to stay there."

The regime also includes intense training sessions four days a week, comprising mostly interval training.

Many, including Scriven himself, speculated he may never return to the saddle after being suspended for three months over the infamous whip stealing incident at Ipswich last April.

But his competitive instincts came to the fore and halfway through the suspension he returned to trackwork to begin the long haul back.

"I want to finish on my terms," he said.

"My mind will tell me when it's enough."