Greg Hickman will have a better understanding of the future prospects of Private Secretary if he decides to run the mare on a rain-affected track at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

After four wins in five starts on country and provincial tracks, Private Secretary will bring a promising record to her home track for a city debut that is worthy of some anticipation.

But Hickman's enthusiasm for her chances in the Declaration Of War @ Coolmore Handicap (1300m) is being tempered by more rain in Sydney on Tuesday, leaving Warwick Farm in the heavy category.

Private Secretary has raced on nothing worse than a good-rated surface.

"She's a nice horse but there's probably only one race which she has won where a little bit of form has come out of it so she's still got to step up," Hickman said.

"It will be a reasonably hard race and it will give us an idea where we can go and can't go with her."

A tendon problem kept Private Secretary away from the racetrack until January but she is well on the way to making up for lost time with two Hawkesbury wins and victories and Nowra and Wyong.

"Touch wood the tendon has never ever worried her but we've just given her the time to do what she had to do," Hickman said.

Hickman is worried a deep barrier could play against Private Secretary but scratchings because of the conditions and jockey Tommy Berry's booking might work in her favour.

Berry rode Private Secretary for the first time in her last-start 2-1/2 length win at Hawkesbury.

"You just need things to go for you from out there (in gate 11) but if the ones who I think are going to scratch come out she will start from six or seven," Hickman said.

"And if the track suits her she's good enough to win."