Shaun Marsh believes that learning to treat every Test like it could be his last is making him a better batsman.
In and out of the side since his debut in 2011, Marsh will partner David Warner in Australia's three-Test series opener against South Africa, which starts in Perth on Thursday.
The left-hander has been generally drafted into the Test team following an injury and dumped under the 'last man in, first man out' selection mantra.
But at age 33 he seemingly has a golden chance to consolidate his spot and extend a seventh stint in the team throughout summer, having been retained ahead of Joe Burns.
The flipside is Marsh could be marched at any point - as was the case last summer when a career-best Test knock of 182 failed to stop Usman Khawaja's return.
"When you get older you sort of know you have to try and make every post a winner. I think going out with that mindset, going into every game as if it were your last, that's been really good for me," Marsh said, having scored tons in his past two Tests and a Sheffield Shield century last week.
"Over the last 12-18 months I've always just played the game as if it was my last ... it keeps you on your toes and keeps you working harder and all that sort of stuff.
"The big thing for me is my preparation, just making sure I get that right."
Marsh became a father earlier this year and has matured immensely since being put on notice by WA coach Justin Langer in 2012.
Langer laid down the law four years ago, having taken the job shortly after Shaun and Mitch Marsh were disciplined for celebrating the younger brother's 21st birthday too hard during the Twenty20 Champions League.
Marsh is now fitter, happier and more productive - as reflected by how quickly he recovered from a hamstring strain during the recent domestic one-day tournament.
"I worked really hard ... I was just making sure I don't leave any stone unturned in my rehab," he said.
"When I first did it I didn't know what sort of grade it was. That first night was a pretty sleepless night, I was pretty down in the dumps.
"But I had a scan the next day and the results gave me a bit of hope.
"It came good in the space of a couple of days, that gave me the confidence leading up to the Shield game that I could get through."
Marsh has played one Test at the WACA, but his brother didn't feature in that 2012 clash.
"It's going to be pretty special," he said, of the prospect of playing Test cricket at their home ground together.
