Pat Cummins is confident skipping the Twenty20 series against India will prime him for what shapes as the biggest summer of cricket of his career.
The 24-year-old has emerged as a key weapon in Australia's quest to win back the Ashes.
Cummins will return to Australia at the end of the five-match one-day international series in India, skipping three 20-over contests.
Two Tests in Bangladesh and two ODIs in India have tested the 24-year-old in stifling heat.
That's on top of playing IPL and a further 10 one-dayers for Australia in 2017.
But he's passed with flying colours, showing no signs of the injuries which had put six years between his first and second Tests.
"Every game my body feels like it recovers really well," Cummins said.
"I feel like I'm in a really good place at the moment.
"It's been a really tough tour in terms of the heat over here (India) and Bangladesh.
"It's been some of the most stressful in terms of managing your overs while you're out there but, in terms of my actual body, it feels great."
With fellow spearheads Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc back in Australia recovering from injury, Australia will be desperate to keep Cummins fit.
All three are aiming to play in Sheffield Shield matches leading up to the first Test against England from November 23 in Brisbane.
Cummins, after a stunning Test debut as an 18-year-old in South Africa, is daring to dream of his first five-day match on home soil.
"I haven't really even been close to playing a Test in Australia," Cummins said.
"Knowing in a couple of months I could be playing at the Gabba in an Ashes Test, it'd be pretty crazy.
"At the moment, I'm trying to get through this series and then, after that, it will be all focus straight on the Ashes and playing the first few Shield games."
Cummins has been touted as a potential match-winner during the Ashes, with his ability to trouble batsmen with bounce and pace in excess of 150km/h.
But he insists Starc and Hazlewood will lead the Australian charge against England.
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