Both retired at the peak of their powers before the desire to compete at the pinnacle started brewing once more.

Hose's return - similar to Jordan's frenzied NBA comeback in 1995 - began when Australian wheelchair rugby coaches asked the dual Paralympic gold medallist to help out at training after his 2016 retirement.

The itch to play fired up again and when a spot on the team opened up, Hose grabbed it with both hands.

Jordan's return to the court netted three successive NBA championship rings.

If Hose can follow suit, a third gold will beckon and he'll be firmly among Australia's greatest Paralympic athletes.

"With COVID, in some ways for me it's been a bit of a silver lining because I retired after Rio," he said.

"Once I got into training (it wasn't too bad). The fitness from the track with the athletics side of things kept me up there and helped get that start.

"The Victorian squad that I train with at home - having that level to play with and against - and also playing local league, I feel not too far off the mark but we'll see."

Mentally and physically, Hose is feeling sharp.

"I'm feeling really good. Being back with the Steelers, I'm just loving it. It's a great environment and they have tough expectations which is good," he said.

"From a fitness point of view, I was doing some track and athletics stuff so that wasn't too bad but being back among the team, it's a little different being by yourself on the track than it is in the team environment.

Camperdown - the idyllic country town where Hose's brother, Nick, still runs a gym - has thrown its support behind the 34-year-old.

Coronavirus restrictions which restrict international travel have prevented his loyal band of friends and family travelling to support the Steelers' bid in person but Hose is feeling the love from afar.

"I've been really overwhelmed with the support, I thank them very much for it," he said.

"I was fortunate at both London and Rio I had about 15 or 20 close friends come over and support me. 'Hosey's Heroes' they called themselves, a bit of a play on Hogan's Heroes.

"They were organising a bit of a pub event in Camperdown to watch it but obviously COVID has knocked that over."

Hose said the Australians were determined to put on a strong performance on the back of anticipated interest in the games.

The Olympic Games were a ratings bonanza for Channel 7, with viewership up an expected 71 per cent across the country.

It's expected this is partially due to the fact parts of Australia were locked down due to coronavirus outbreaks.

On the back of this, analysts have forecast more bumper numbers for the Paralympics with both Victoria and New South Wales still battling rising case numbers.

"Hopefully that can be one positive in a negative situation," he said.

"It's just great to be playing and representing Australia and I know watching the Olympics it certainly started building the reality that it was going to go ahead.

"Given there's a bit of a down time in Victoria (and New South Wales) hopefully we can put on a bit of a performance and hopefully come away with a good result."

There's a strong bond between Hose and his Steelers teammates. The now Footscray resident is one of five who featured in Rio de Janeiro still playing while there are another four making their Paralympic debuts.

"It's a healthy mix," Hose said.

"There are the newbies and then of course those who went to London (in 2012) and Rio (in 2016).

"You should be fighting for your position every time and in every competition. It's keeping everyone honest.

"For an old-timer like myself, that's good. I feel good and I'm ready to go whenever I'm called upon for my minutes."

Regardless of how his third Paralympics bid turns out, Hose will head home to a career he's passionate about.

Hose became a quadriplegic in a car accident on Australia Day in 2005, when the driver of the car he was in lost control of the wheel. He was left with serious spinal cord damage, swelling on the brain and two collapsed lungs.

Now, he's working in the same rehabilitation industry which helped him find his feet after the life-changing incident.

"I'm a support worker through there, delivering wheelchair skills and physio skills, whether that's transfers and other things," he said.

"I'm also just setting up individuals with NDIS packages and resources they need to get going.

"It's not an easy journey to go through in those early days so if I can make it a bit easier and shed some light it's great to be able to give some of that experience back."

Hose's Steelers will begin their campaign at 6.30pm AEST on Wednesday.

Warrnambool-raised rower Kathryn Ross will begin at 11.50am on Friday in the mixed double sculls heats. She will team with partner Simon Albury.

After breaking the world record in the PR2 1X event in 2019, the Paralympic silver medallist will be looking for a podium finish again in Tokyo.

Hamilton-raised table tennis prospect Melissa Tapper will also begin at 6.20pm on Wednesday.

Tapper is fresh off an Olympic campaign and will be vying for her maiden Paralympic medal at the event.

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