Sam Kerr warns she 'only playing at 80%' after hat-trick for Chelsea in UCL

Sam Kerr is adamant she's still not quite back to her brilliant best, despite a pulsating hat-trick that illuminated Chelsea's Champions League victory over a hapless Paris FC.

'I'm pretty close - but I'm not there yet,' warned Kerr after her treble in Chelsea's 4-1 win at Stamford Bridge.

The recently engaged star agreed with Chelsea boss Emma Hayes' verdict that she's still playing at only '80 per cent' of her capabilities after a frustrating, injury-interrupted spell that stretches back to the Women's World Cup on home soil.

But even Hayes was left smiling that 'if that's her 80 per cent, I'll take it' after Kerr produced a striking masterclass, topped off by a brilliant, instinctive lob that outfoxed a retreating Paris FC goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.

Kerr felt the well taken goal was indicative of her 'getting back really close to 100 per cent.'

'I just need more consistency, more training and more games,' the Matildas captain said.

'This last block of games has been difficult because you don't [get the chance to] train that often.'

On the eve of the match in London, Kerr - who has endured an ongoing struggle with injuries to both her calves - admitted: 'I've never really [since I've been at Chelsea] dealt with a little bit of an injury or a niggle, so it's been quite frustrating to be honest.

'But I definitely feel like I'm on the up now. 'It's been a real positive for me that although I haven't been at my fittest, I am [still] performing.

'Maybe I'm not at my top level, but I've still scored a few goals....I think as a striker when you're not in the groove, I guess you can lose a little bit of that confidence.

'In the next two to three weeks, I'll hopefully be back at my fittest.'

Kerr, who also scored her second Women's Super League goal of the season against Liverpool last weekend, will be back in action on Sunday (Monday, AEDT) as the league leaders return to their usual Kingsmeadow base to host Leicester City, where fellow Aussie Remy Siemsen is tipped to be on the Foxes' team sheet.