Shaun Marsh is shaping up well as he seeks to prove his fitness ahead of the first Test, with the hamstrung batsman set to play in Western Australia's Sheffield Shield opener.
Marsh trained on Sunday and Monday and, provided he pulls up well, is expected to face South Australia in the day-night Shield clash that starts on Tuesday.
The left-hander tweaked his hamstring earlier this month, placing him in doubt for next week's Test series opener between Australia and South Africa at the WACA.
But Marsh, who scored a ton in Australia's most recent Test, has been training the house down, according to teammate Michael Klinger.
"Shaun is ready to go," Klinger said in Perth, where WA included Marsh in a 14-man squad.
"He's moving really well ... he's trained really well over the last couple of days and looks fully fit.
"The scan showed it was a real minor kind of strain ... I don't think he'd be put on the park unless he is 100 per cent.
"So it's great to have him with us, hopefully for only one game then he'll be off playing Test cricket."
If Marsh is able to bat without issue at the WACA this week he will certainly come into contention for the Test squad that will be announced on Friday.
Marsh is one of many candidates to partner David Warner at the top of Australia's batting order, with Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja and Cameron Bancroft also in the mix.
"He's in career-best form," WA coach Justin Langer said of Marsh last week.
WA skipper Adam Voges and allrounder Mitch Marsh will also ramp up their preparations for the first Test in the day-night Shield clash.
Bancroft, floated as a potential Test debutant by Steve Waugh last week, will also be keen for a big score in Perth.
"If an opportunity comes up for him at some time this summer, whether it's early or later, he'll feel at home," Klinger said.
"He works at his game very hard and he's shown some adaptability in his game .. he's a hard trainer, probably the best fielder in Australia.
"His performance over the last couple of years has been excellent .. his play against spin is fantastic now, he's got a lot of good scoring options against spin.
"Hopefully that will hold him in good stead ... for the tour of India next year."
