Ashes victors Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon are back to spearhead the Sydney Sixers' Big Bash League campaign - and they hope it can open up a World Cup berth next year.
Neither player, despite cementing their spot in Australia's Test team, was picked in Australia's one-day squad to take on England this month.
Smith, the Sixers captain, last wore the one-day colours in January last year while Lyon played the most recent of his two ODIs in March 2012 in the West Indies.
But neither is ready to be typecast as a long-form cricketer only - not with a World Cup to be played in Australia next year.
"I want to play every format of cricket for Australia," Lyon said on Thursday.
"This is my opportunity to come out here and perform and hopefully put my hand up for selection in the one-day format and the T20 stuff."
Smith solidified his spot in the Test team with a pair of centuries in Australia's 5-0 Ashes whitewash.
He brings further value to the one-day arena as one of the country's best fielders and his ability to bowl part-time leg spin.
But getting into the Australian team, currently ranked No.2 in the world, is harder than it used to be.
Smith said he realised why selectors had shown faith in the bulk of the squad who went toe-to-toe with world No.1 India, before ultimately losing 3-2 late last year.
But he said he still had a strong desire to revive his ODI career ahead of the World Cup - having previously represented Australia at the T20 World Cup in the West Indies in 2010.
Lyon, however, was less understanding about Smith's omission from the ODIs against England which start in Melbourne on Sunday.
"I am a little bit surprised that Steve isn't in the one-day set-up at the moment," Lyon said.
"He's a world class player. We all know that.
"It's another opportunity for him to come out (Friday) night with the white ball and really show his world class and put his hand up for selection like anyone else."
The pair have been named for the Sixers' home game against the Perth Scorchers on Friday, giving the inaugural BBL champions a formidable line-up.
They join giant England fast bowler Chris Tremlett in a 13-man squad.
In their absence, the Sixers have already become one of the competition's feared opponents, rising to third on the ladder and with just one loss from four games.
Victory on Friday would allow them to leapfrog the Scorchers into outright second.
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