Australian captain Steve Smith has backed comeback quick James Pattinson to spark a new-look bowling attack after the Victorian was confirmed in the side for the first Test against the West Indies in Hobart.
Injury-plagued Pattinson will feature in his first Test since March 2014 after replacing spearhead Mitchell Starc (ankle) for the Bellerive clash starting on Thursday.
Despite Pattinson's lack of Test action, Smith believed the firebrand would do some damage alongside young quick Josh Hazlewood against the lowly Windies.
"I think he just needs to go out there and do what he does well - that's bowl fast, swing the ball and get it up there and get it moving," Smith said of Pattinson who has snared 51 scalps from 13 Tests to date.
"I think he is pretty similar in the way Joshy Hazlewood bowls - hopefully those two can lead our attack really well.
"Hopefully he can have a successful comeback into the Test team."
National chairman of selectors Rod Marsh hinted that Hazlewood would be given a break this summer and the Hobart clash appeared the most likely considering the short turnaround between the Boxing Day and New Year's Tests.
But Hazlewood received the nod for the three-Test series opener at Bellerive, relegating WA bolter Nathan Coulter-Nile to 12th man duties.
Smith said the batting order would remain the same despite speculation that No.7 'keeper Peter Nevill would replace allrounder Mitch Marsh at No.6.
"He's there to do a job, to score runs for the team," Smith said.
"Hopefully he plays his natural game."
Australia are overwhelming favourites to thrash a Windies side that has not won an overseas Test series of note in 20 years.
The Windies have been given little chance of even stretching the first Test into a fourth day after losing their opening tour match to a Cricket Australia XI featuring six first class rookies.
Australia: David Warner, Joe Burns, Steve Smith (capt), Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
