The Minardi team is confident that Alex Yoong will make the grade at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, as he returns to the track after a two-race break that saw him substituted with BAR test driver Anthony Davidson.

The Malaysian was given his breather after failing to qualify for three races under the 107% rule this season. His initial problem in San Marino was dismissed because of a lack of power steering on his PS02, but when he later fell short of the mark at Silverstone and Hockenheim the decision was taken to replace him with the young Englishman for a short time.

Yoong was back on track for two days in testing at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza last week, preparing for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix. The Malaysian spent some time simulating qualifying runs, and he soon was setting comparable times to highly-rated team mate Mark Webber.

"As far as we are concerned whatever the problem was is sorted and we are looking forward to doing the next three races of the season with him," said a spokesperson. "We are going to do everything we can to get Alex qualified."

Yoong's best attempts put him within half a second of Webber's time, although the Australian was hit with gearbox problems in the afternoon, pleasing his Minardi colleagues and inspiring them with confidence for the rest of the season.

The 26-year-old made his F1™ racing debut this time last year at Monza, and performed well under intense pressure. He and Fernando Alonso were forced to use the same car to qualify following the failure of two of the team's three F1 machines at the beginning of the hour-long session.

Neither the USA nor Japan are expected to pose him too many problems either, after he showed well at Indianapolis last year and he is familiar with the Suzuka track from his Formula Nippon days.

Although a spokesperson did not like to speculate on the team's course of action should Yoong fall victims to problems in qualifying once again, saying Stoddart would deal with the issue "at that time", it is likely that Davidson would be recalled after two promising performances.