James Pattinson's Test return is set be confirmed on Tuesday but he is just one piece of the puzzle that is Australia's dwindling pace stocks.
Pattinson was close to being picked ahead of Josh Hazlewood for the day-night Test at Adelaide Oval.
The Victorian was overlooked but his chance to play Test cricket for the first time since March 2014 will come in Hobart next week.
Australia's three-Test series against the West Indies starts on December 10, with chairman of selectors Rod Marsh to name his squad on Tuesday.
Pattinson will come into the XI due to the injury-enforced absence of Mitchell Starc.
At a minimum one other paceman will be summoned.
Hazlewood and Peter Siddle are far from fresh.
Siddle has a back niggle but is expected to play against the West Indies, while team management have been worried about Hazlewood's workloads since the first Test.
"We don't want to break him," Steve Smith said of Hazlewood.
A mix of injuries, form and misbehaviour mean there is no obvious contender to be called up alongside Pattinson.
Nathan Coulter-Nile is highly regarded by selectors and took part in Australia's red-ball training camp last month alongside Tasmania's Andrew Fekete and James Faulkner.
However, Coulter-Nile only recently started bowling due to a shoulder injury.
He should have bowled for Western Australian on the weekend but was given a one-match ban for showing dissent at an umpire's decision while playing for the state's second XI.
Coulter-Nile hasn't played first-class cricket since the Sheffield Shield final in March but Starc backed him to deliver if called upon.
"He was actually around the group in Perth doing a bit of bowling through that Test match," Starc said on Monday.
"He's a fantastic bowler. He's played enough cricket now to know his game really well and if he does get the chance I'm sure he'll do a great job."
Fekete, a shock selection in the squad that was set to tour Bangladesh in October, was dropped by Tasmania earlier this season and is expected to be overlooked.
Jackson Bird, who played the most recent of his three Tests in the 2013 Ashes, has regained fitness and is starting to show a bit of form.
Bird is coming off a five-wicket haul in Hobart, while he completed a county season with Hampshire this year.
Meanwhile, coach Darren Lehmann hinted Peter Nevill could be promoted to No.6 in the order after his polished 66 on a difficult pitch in Adelaide.
"I know the captain's talked about that maybe for the next Test," Lehmann told ABC Radio.
"Depending on the make-up of the side and whether Mitch Marsh stays in."
Marsh continues to shine with the ball but battle with the bat.
However fellow allrounders Faulkner (toe) and Moises Henriques (calf) aren't putting any selection pressure on due to injuries.
