For the second time this season, Shaun Marsh will attempt to shore up his place in Australia's Test side with ODI runs.
Marsh started Australia's four-Test series against India as the nation's form batsman, having bounced back from a horror Test tour of the UAE with plenty of Sheffield Shield runs plus an ODI century.
The veteran, who along with Usman Khawaja has shouldered the biggest burden in the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner this summer, has failed to step up.
Marsh has managed 183 runs at 26.14 from seven innings this series, fuelling speculation his stop-start Test career might be over.
National selectors, with thoughts of this year's Ashes tour already on their mind, will settle soon on a squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka that starts on January 24 in Brisbane.
Coach Justin Langer and chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns might be hesitant to drop one of the few old hands in an incredibly inexperienced XI.
Equally, if the 35-year-old is no longer part of their Ashes plan, he will likely be shown the door.
Marsh won't be able to rediscover any red-ball form in coming weeks because of the Shield hiatus but he will face India in a three-match ODI series beginning on Saturday in Sydney.
Marsh excelled last year in the 50-over format, scoring 416 runs at 59.42, while going a long way to securing his place in Australia's World Cup squad.
"I've felt really good in the one-dayers over the last 12 months," the left-hander said during Sunday's rain break at the SCG.
"So looking forward to the one-day series after this Test finishes.
"I'm working hard and, hopefully, there's a big one in the second innings (in the fourth Test)."
Marsh described his series against India, featuring scores of 44, 45 and 60, as frustrating and disappointing.
"I haven't been able to convert my starts into big scores," he told Fox Cricket.
"I've been getting myself in then just getting out.
"There's a bit of noise there (regarding his place in the Test team).
"I try not to read or listen to it too much ... I just try and go about my business as normal, keep working hard."
