Steve Smith's 190 runs in the three-match one-day series against Pakistan included his maiden hundred and came with the added pressure of batting at No.3.
Smith, however, might still have work to do to claim a spot in Australia's World Cup XI on home soil in February.
Shane Watson's return from injury would squeeze Smith out of the No.3 slot and into the middle order where contenders are coming thick and fast ahead of next month's ODI home series against South Africa.
Skipper and No.4 batsman Michael Clarke is also poised to return after overcoming a hamstring strain.
"In regards to one-day cricket, if Watto is fit, he will come in and bat No.3," Clarke told reporters on Tuesday.
"He's been very successful there for us and I like him batting in that position leading up to the World Cup.
"Smithy's grabbed his opportunity with both hands in regards to one-day cricket.
"He's got an opportunity because we've got guys out injured. He'll probably go back down to middle order."
Clarke says his NSW teammate Smith can bat anywhere in the order.
"We can bat him in the middle order," Clarke said.
"He runs well between the wickets and rotates the strike really well if he bats at the death.
And then he's shown his class if he bats at No.3.
"If you get an injury, it allows you to fill either role.
"But, Shane Watson has done everything that has been asked of him over a long period of time in the one-day format batting at No.3 and I think he deserves the right to come back in and bat at that position if he's fit."
With Watson and Clarke to follow openers David Warner and Aaron Finch, Smith could be competing with excitement machine Glenn Maxwell and acting one-day skipper George Bailey for a middle-order role.
Bailey's 46 runs at 15.33 in the one-day series against Pakistan which ended on Sunday in Abu Dhabi continues a lean year for the Tasmanian, scoring 279 runs at 25.36 in 12 ODI matches.
Asked if Smith would be part of Australia's top six at the World Cup, Clarke said: "I wouldn't have a clue. I'm not a selector, thank God."
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