Fit-again paceman James Pattinson has been left with big shoes to fill this summer - in more ways than one.
Pattinson is almost certain to replace injured paceman Mitchell Starc for Australia's first Test against the West Indies starting on December 10 in Hobart.
With Starc (right foot stress fractures) and fellow paceman Mitchell Johnson (retired) out of the picture, Pattinson will be heavily relied on to step up from the get go as Australia's pace enforcer.
But first, the pressure will be on Pattinson to guide Victoria to a win in their Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia at the WACA ground.
Pattinson has been cleared to play the final two days of the match after being released from 12th man Test duties.
The bowler he'll replace in the Bushrangers' XI is Chris Tremain, who claimed 4-48 on Saturday to put Victoria in the box seat.
The Bushrangers will resume on day three at 1-149 in their second innings - an overall lead of 285 - with Marcus Stoinis on 86 and Rob Quiney on 62.
Tremain's efforts with the ball helped skittle WA for 186, giving Victoria a first-innings lead of 136.
At one stage, Tremain had figures of 4-23 from 13 overs before copping some late punishment from tail-ender Michael Hogan.
Pattinson's 150km/h thunderbolts are sure to put WA under the pump when the home side bats again.
And national selectors will hope the 25-year-old gets through unscathed following his litany of back issues over the years.
WA would have been all out even earlier in their first innings had Victoria taken their chances in the field.
Ashton Agar (23) was yet to get off the mark when he was dropped by Aaron Finch at first slip.
And the spinner was given another life on 16 when his edge went to the wicketkeeper and deflected to second slip before being grassed.
"It's a little bit difficult to keep out of your mind," Tremain replied when asked how he felt knowing he could only play two days.
"But in saying that, you know you've got two days to do a job. I tried to do the right thing by the team until Patto comes in.
"He (Pattinson) had a great laugh. He walked in and said, 'All right, well done Trem. Now you can run the drinks for the rest of the day'.
"So now, I've got to run the drinks and keep them hydrated.
"I'm really excited to see how Pattinson goes over the next two days."
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