Tim Paine has been dreaming about the Ashes for six months and now his squad is starting to turn into a reality.
And one certainty in his eyes is this: Steve Smith and David Warner are part of his best team.
Australia have now played their last Test before the Ashes opener on August 1 at Edgbaston, with between 16 and 20 players in the mix by Paine's reckoning.
For so much of the summer the question surrounding Australian cricket was who can they pick.
Now it's almost a case of who will miss out after four centuries in Canberra and Mitchell Starc's return to form against Sri Lanka.
Australia's openers present the biggest questions.
Assuming Warner returns, Canberra centurion Joe Burns and perhaps the best find of the summer in Marcus Harris will battle it out to open alongside him.
Usman Khawaja likely saved his spot at first drop with a Canberra century, Smith should return at No.4 and Travis Head is a lock at No.5 with a Test average now above 50.
That realistically leaves Canberra's other centurion Kurtis Patterson in a battle with Marnus Labuschagne and Marcus Stoinis to play at No.6 at Edgbaston.
"(I began thinking about it) about six months ago ... I've been dreaming about it actually," Paine said of the Ashes.
"I'm happy now that we've got this out of the way I can put everything into it because ... It's something that I've dreamed of as a kid.
"I didn't think I'd be going over as the captain, but in the back of my mind I've been thinking about it."
Australia still have four home Sheffield Shield rounds, an Australia A series, and the start of the county season that will include Matt Renshaw, Shaun Marsh, Cameron Bancroft and Peter Siddle between now and the first Test.
Starc's 10-wicket haul in Canberra put to bed any doubts if he'd be there for the first Test, while Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon are in career-best form and are certainties.
Josh Hazlewood is also expected to be fit while Jhye Richardson has proven he'll threaten for a spot along with the likes of Chris Tremain and Daniel Worrall with big ends to the domestic season.
Meanwhile Paine said he had watched England closely for the past six months to plot Australia's first series win there since 2001, and he was certain both Warner and Smith had to be part of his team.
"I think everyone has to a degree got to earn their stripes," Paine said.
"Those two have plenty of runs in the bank. I see us going to the Ashes and them having a huge part in us winning the series.
"That's how I see how important they are to this team. We know how good they are."
