Marcus Harris is set to make his Test debut at Adelaide Oval on Thursday, barring a last-minute rethink from Australia's selectors.
Harris has been locked in a selection showdown with Peter Handscomb since the 14-man squad was named, with the pair battling over the final spot in Australia's XI that will confront India in the four-Test series opener.
Harris, the only specialist first-class opener in the squad who sealed his call-up with an unbeaten 250 at the MCG, has always been the frontrunner.
That remains the case despite Handscomb impressing in tough conditions at the Gabba last week.
Harris shared a net with Aaron Finch on Monday, having previously opened with his state teammate in the Big Bash League but not the Sheffield Shield, then worked on his bat-pad catching technique during Tuesday's marathon training session that lasted more than three hours.
The least experienced player in the side is generally asked to field under the lid. Dumped batsman Marnus Labuschagne performed the duty against Pakistan.
The stage is set for Harris, who left Justin Langer's mentorship at Western Australia and joined Victoria in 2016, to become the nation's 456th male Test cricketer.
Selecting the left-hander would allow Usman Khawaja, now the first batsman picked in a weakened order missing Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, to return to his customary position at first drop.
Langer, who sent Harris a message welcoming him to the "brotherhood" after his selection in the Test squad, indicated at the time that the 26-year-old "can't be much closer (to a baggy green) than he is now".
Handscomb could potentially still earn a recall if selectors decide to pick six batsmen and leave Mitch Marsh out of the team.
Mike Hussey hopes the chosen XI are given a proper chance to prove they belong this summer, urging selectors to pick and stick.
"You just need to be patient with good players," Hussey told AAP.
"Look at someone like Travis Head. He showed some good signs in the UAE and it'd be a real blow to his confidence and mindset if they just punted him straight away.
"If you've identified somebody as one of the best players in the country then just stick with them for a while, unless there's someone in the level below just hammering the door down and making a case too strong to ignore.
"You're going to get low scores, that's just part and parcel of the game."
Chris Rogers expressed similar sentiments this week.
Steve Waugh, who was a guest of honour at training on Tuesday, is a great example of Hussey's mantra.
Waugh's maiden Test ton came in his 27th Test; he averaged 30.52 prior to that milestone.
The legend went on to score 31 more Test hundreds, with Ricky Ponting the only Australian to have celebrated more centuries at the highest level.
Meanwhile, Finch provided an injury scare on Tuesday but was quickly cleared to continue batting after being struck on the right hand by a rearing delivery from Mitchell Starc.
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