Melbourne, Jan. 21: Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds has been cleared to make his comeback from a knee injury this weekend - for club side Gold Coast.

Symonds, who underwent knee surgery after struggling through the Boxing Day Test against South Africa, returns to Queensland training tomorrow morning before suiting up for the Dolphins against Redlands on Saturday.

If he comes through that match unscathed, Symonds, 33, is in with a chance of playing for the Bulls in next week''s Sheffield Shield match against the Western Australia.

Sydney  - Cycling great Lance Armstrong was on the pace Wednesday as Australia's Tour Down Under hit the Adelaide hills.

The 145-kilometre second stage winds up with three hilly 20-kilometre circuits and the 37-year-old Texan showed he was in his element as the gradients got steeper.

It's Armstrong's first stage race since announcing in September his three-year furlough was over and he would come back and try for an eighth Tour de France victory.

Sydney  - Anglo-Australian mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd said Wednesday that it would slash 6,300 jobs by June, with one third of them going in Australia.

The world's largest resources company will mothball its Ravensthorpe nickel mine in Western Australia. Over on the east coast of the continent, in New South Wales and Queensland, 1,100 coal mining jobs will go.

Melbourne  - Ana Ivanovic recovered after a second-set threat from Italian Alberta Brianti to earn a 6-3, 6-2 victory Wednesday to reach the third round of the Australian Open.

The Serb fifth seed, who won the French Open last year and briefly touched number one, remains just outside the discussion for the top spot by the end of the season's first major.

But her performance gave hope that she is preparing to climb back up the standings.

Melbourne - Lleyton Hewitt has vowed to fight on with his career after suffering a heartbreaking early exit at the Australian Open. The 27-year-old is ready to take his game to the American indoor courts next month after losing to Fernando Gonzalez.

With a ranking which will now stand close to 100 for the former number one and double Grand Slam champion, prospects admittedly look grim.

Melbourne  - James Blake quietly celebrated the inauguration of Barack Obama from the Australian Open, the American proud to have donated to the political cause.

"It's a very significant inauguration, a very significant presidency to have the first African American in power," said the former Harvard student known for his views outside of the court. "I really think there's no one better qualified for the job than Barack Obama right now."