Lavra Joe, who hasn't run since his unplaced performance in The Nullarbor (2536m), has been back in work for eight weeks at trainer Ray Jones' Greenbushes property.

Despite not winning a Group 1 race yet, Lavra Joe has still built a formidable record of 30 wins from 60 starts, including the Bunbury Cup earlier this year.

Jones said Lavra Joe had been showing positive signs in the early stages of his campaign.

"He's still his same grumpy self," Jones told The Trots WA.

"He only likes to work one way on the track and it isn't the way I want to work him.

"He doesn't like like working up the hill, so I have to lead him up the hill.

"Both he and Been Scootin are doing times on the track now when they were racing last campaign and they aren't close to racing yet."

The son of Roll With Joe is expected to trial at Bunbury within the next month and may have a second trial before making his race return.

Lavra Joe's return will be a welcome boost to the local Free-For-All ranks, which copped a blow earlier this week with Shockwave ruled out of the WA Pacing Cup.

Jones said he hoped the upcoming Pacing Cup could be the five-year-old's best opportunity to score an elusive Group 1 win.

"He's really holding his condition well," he said.

"There's no reason he shouldn't improve a bit this campaign.

"The big races are always draw dependant, but I'm very happy with him."

Jones said he was hopeful Lavra Joe could hold his form over the next six months and secure a slot in next year's Nullarbor.