Although untried in Indian Test conditions, Steve O'Keefe has been tipped to thrive from the start by a former Australian spinner who knows all about big first impressions.
Jason Krejza made a stunning Test debut in 2008, taking match figures of 12-358 against India in Nagpur and being named man of the match despite Australia losing by 172 runs and relinquishing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Although expensive, the figures remain the biggest Test haul by an Australian spinner in India.
Even Shane Warne's best match figures on the dry, big-turning pitches in India were 6-125.
Australia look likely to head into the opening Test of the four-match series in Pune next Thursday with two spinners, Nathan Lyon and O'Keefe, whose four games in a stuttering Test career were against Pakistan (two), the West Indies and Sri Lanka.
Lyon has been the tourists' No.1 spinner for the past five years, but his record in Asia - where he averages in the mid-40s - is well below par for a well-respected slow bowler with 228 Test wickets to his name.
Krejza believes the reason why Lyon has struggled is the same reason why O'Keefe's left-arm orthodox will prove tricky in Indian conditions.
Release point. Side-spin. Subtlety.
Not always hitting the seam but sometimes the shiny side of the ball. Just like Sri Lankan veteran Rangana Herath, who carved up Australia's batsmen in a 3-0 Test whitewash last year.
In fact, it might turn out that the one that doesn't spin will be O'Keefe's biggest weapon.
"Steven O'Keefe will - if he bowls well - succeed because his seam angle is very similar to the way the (Indian spinners) bowl," said Krejza.
"He can undercut it a bit which is why he doesn't spin it a lot in Australian conditions and he's extremely accurate.
"So bowling to right-handers, he's beating the bat on both sides - if it doesn't spin he can get inside edges or straight onto the pads for LBWs. And if it does spin, then he's going to get the edge."
Lyon, on the other hand, has been coached to suit the Aussie conditions where spinners are encouraged to get their wrists over the top of the ball more to create drop and get the ball gripping on the seam.
"Nathan Lyon can be quite predictable - you can play for turn most of the time and it will turn," said Krejza, who now runs Elite Cricket coaching in Sydney and will take a tour of young Aussie cricketers to India in April.
"And that's what I found the issue with over there.
"It's really hard to change because you've got to change your wrist position.
"The way they're brought up, they cut under the ball with different arm angles."
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