The world No.4 is targeting a full return to fitness by April 2013. Nadal hasn't played competitively since his shock second round exit from Wimbledon in June due to a partial tear of the patella tendon in his left knee.
Nadal intends to compete at the Mubadala Tennis Championships in Abu Dhabi later this month and then play at the first grand slam of the new season in Melbourne next January.
Nadal told Spanish radio station Onda Cero: 'I want to be 100 per cent in Monte Carlo and then prepare well for Roland Garros. I will hopefully be ready for Australia but I am only looking at tomorrow and continuing my recovery. I have the goal of returning in Abu Dhabi but neither Abu Dhabi nor Australia are the end of the world for me. I will only come back when I am fit. I won't come back worrying about my knee.'
Nadal does not believe he has a serious chance of challenging for the title in Melbourne.
The world No.4 also added: ''Miracles do not exist and I am unlikely to return and compete for the Australian Open. The results will not worry me in the first tournaments back.
'My recovery is going well. This past month I have taken an important step. I feel happy and the doctors are too. We are in the last stage of the recovery and I want to recover as soon as possible but I will not rush back and then have to stop again in six months or a year's time.'