Australia are facing a major selection headache for the Boxing Day Test, with seamer Josh Hazlewood nearing a return from injury.
The 31-year-old missed the second match against West Indies and the series opener against South Africa, but is tipped to be fit for the MCG clash beginning on December 26th.
Hazlewood has been one of Australia's best performers with the ball in recent years when he is fit, but has dealt with two separate side strains in the past 12 months.
Speaking during the coverage of the first Test on Channel 7, Hazlewood provided an update on his fitness and revealed his desire to return for Boxing Day.
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"Everything is ticking along nicely and going according to plan," he said.
"If I'm ticking the box on the 24th and bowling two spells of four or five overs with a break in between - that's the final tick we're looking for - then I'll be available for selection hopefully.
"I'll build it up over the next week and a half and tick that last box on the 24th hopefully.
"I'm not noticing the side at all, so fingers crossed."
Hazlewood has taken 217 wickets in his Test career at an average of 26.16, but potentially standing in his way of a return to the side is Scott Boland.
After his breakout display against England last summer, the Victorian quick has now taken 25 wickets at an impeccable average of 10.36 in just five matches for the Aussies.
Boland returned figures of 4/42 during a chaotic first Test against the Proteas, and skipper Pat Cummins admitted it would be a tough selection decision if Hazlewood is cleared to play.
"Even looking at the first Test of the summer was a tough call after the summer he had last year," Cummins said.
"We keep talking about the next six months – we've got some big tours coming up and we're going to need more than 11 players.
"To be able to draw on someone like Joshy Hazlewood off the bench, it's going to be tough with someone missing out."
Hazlewood has become one of many Aussie players to compete in all three formats of the game, and the hectic schedule is clearly taking a toll on his body.
The ever-reliable right-arm quick said he has been frustrated with his lack of red-ball cricket in the past year and will look to manage his workload moving forward.
"It's been a frustrating little period I guess, in particular in red ball...the white-ball has been going great the last few years," he said.
"I guess that's the cost of playing all three formats and putting all your energy into every little game you play.
"You don't have that time to either build your strength up and or build the workloads up to get ready for a Test match.
"We might have to look at that and find a way around that somehow."