Skipper Tim Paine has backed Victorian pair Marcus Harris and Aaron Finch to open the batting in the first Test for Australia, but admits the top six is not yet locked in.
Speculation is swirling around Australia's batting order for the four-Test series against India beginning December 6 after selectors earlier this week named a 14-man squad.
"I think if Finchy plays for us ... I dare say it is going to be at the top of the order," Paine said on Friday.
"If they're the two we go with (Finch/Harris), I'm totally comfortable with that."
Paine said conditions at first-Test venue Adelaide Oval would impact selection and runs in next week's round of Sheffield Shield matches could get players across the line.
"We've got Mitch Marsh in the side at six at the moment. If conditions dictate and you only need four bowlers, you could play all of the batsmen and shuffle the order around," he said.
"It's important we've got lots of options. Clearly this next Shield round is really important for a number of guys."
The fifth Shield round runs begins Tuesday, with the Test squad to assemble in Adelaide on Saturday.
Paine, though, backed Harris to make his Test debut after getting an up-close view of him from behind the stumps when Tasmania played Victoria this week.
"I've always thought Marcus Harris was an excellent player, even when he was playing for WA," he said of the 26-year-old, who has scored 1951 Shield runs at 47.58 since joining Victoria.
"I think his defence has improved a lot and he's always had that really good attacking game and can score very quickly. So I think his game is pretty well suited to Test cricket."
Harris, who scored a second-innings 67 against the Tigers, will open for Victoria against Queensland at the Gabba but Finch will probably bat down the order. Paine said that wasn't an issue.
"You'd like to think they'd help him prepare as best they possibly could but at the same time they've got a Shield game to win," he said.
Victoria skipper Peter Handscomb, also in the Test squad, agreed that Finch could adapt to open regardless.
"He opens the batting in all white-ball cricket with the swinging ball there, so he has got the skill to do it," he told SEN Radio.
Whoever gets the nod to open will have to handle a new-ball Indian attack rated one of the best to visit Australia.
"They have an excellent pace attack which we probably haven't associated with India for a number of years," Paine said.
"Their team is more suited to playing in Australia. That's a great challenge for our group and one I'm looking forward to."
