Travis Head has backed Jake Weatherald to take his chance against Bangladesh and lock in his place for a demanding season as Australia begin their push for a third straight World Test Championship final.
Weatherald, who had a modest Ashes campaign last summer, is in a Brisbane training camp before Tests in Darwin from August 13 to 17 and Mackay from August 22 to 26.
The series is the start of a brutal stretch of up to 21 Test matches in 12 months for an ageing Australian squad.
Weatherald's opportunity
Head and Weatherald have reunited as opening partners, with the left-hander back in South Australia after a stint in Tasmania. Weatherald has impressed with runs in the Sheffield Shield and English county cricket, earning a central contract.
Head said the pair have not talked much about their partnership, but he is confident Weatherald can make the most of the chance against Bangladesh.
Head's confidence
"I had a hit with him the other day for the first time, the old partner," Head told 7NEWS on Sunday night.
"He's been training apparently as Jake does — hitting a lot of balls and working on a lot of things."
"It'll be just about connecting this week. We haven't talked much at all, really, I've sort of left him alone. I've enjoyed my time off so I think that's important as well."
"Just reconnect this week, learn the things that he's been working on or wants me to watch, and vice versa. There'll be a few things I want him to keep watching as a partner."
"We had a really good summer. I thought we started really well in patches. He would have loved to go on and get a few more runs but he played really well in a few Test matches."
"I don't think it gets as hard as it gets in an Ashes series. He's got a bit of time now to hopefully bed that spot and play well. It's exciting for him."
WTC final motivation
Victories over Bangladesh would strengthen Australia's hopes of reaching a third consecutive WTC final, with Test series against South Africa, New Zealand and India still to come.
Head welcomed the return of captain Pat Cummins from a back injury, along with Josh Hazlewood (hamstring, Achilles) and Nathan Lyon (hamstring), and dismissed criticism of Australia fielding a full-strength side.
"No one wants to miss Test matches, so nice to have everyone fit and ready to go, and hopefully we play well," he said.
Test cricket's pinnacle
Head, who played in the Indian Premier League while Steve Smith featured in Major League Cricket, made it clear Test cricket remains his priority.
"That's the pinnacle of it," he said. "To be fortunate enough to be able to get 21 Tests in a period of time is, yeah, it's going to be tough, but that's why we play the game."
Head expects "a little bit of nervous energy" at the start of the camp before the team heads to Darwin.
Australia will also watch England's upcoming home series against Pakistan, with England missing retired captain Ben Stokes and new coach Stephen Fleming not starting until later this year.
"They may have got a really, really good one. Let's hope not too good," Head laughed of Fleming.
