Australia will unleash a man once considered a potential Test star, on the game’s shortest format.

Nic Maddinson will make his international debut in Thursday’s Twenty20 clash with India in Rajkot.

But skipper George Bailey says he won’t settle on a squad until he can make a proper assessment of the conditions – with heavy rain forecast for the match.

There was a major downpour on Tuesday night, and with 90 per cent humidity forecast and a 60 per cent chance of rain, that could be repeated on Thursday (Friday AEDT).

But Bailey did confirm the debut of 21-year-old New South Welshman Maddinson, who was a late inclusion following the withdrawal of regular captain Michael Clarke with a back injury.

Maddinson first caught the eyes of selectors in 2010 when he became the youngest NSW player to score first class century, smacking 113 against South Australia as an 18-year-old.

And Bailey said the left-hander was proficient in cricket’s shortest format, saying he played his way onto this tour thanks to his recent form with Australia A – where he impressed, including plundering 88 and 90 in one first class match against South Africa A.

“Nic will certainly play,” Bailey confirmed on Wednesday.

“Nic I think this format really suits him.

“He’s had a really good Australia A winter for us, so it’s really about him continuing that.

“He’s an aggressive player who likes to take the game on.

“He ticks a lot of the attributes that we like in Twenty20.

“He has handy left-arm spinners as well.

“Certainly one of the things we look at is guys who can add strings to their bow.”

Explosive Australia opener Aaron Finch said fans could expect to see some fireworks from the debutant.

“He takes on all bowling, and I think anyone that has seen him play will be testament to that,” Finch said.

“He gives it a good smack and he’s a really good player.”

Thursday’s fixture is just the second to be played at the newly-constructed Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, and one of the few grounds that none of the Australian team has witnessed first hand before.

“I don’t think any of the guys have been to this ground,” Bailey said.

“It doesn’t look particularly big.”

Bailey said despite some setbacks for the team in recent seasons, the Australian team’s fighting spirit remained.

“What we have lost is a hell of a lot of experience,” he said.

“We’re rebuilding that, guys getting used to being in this side and being used to the scrutiny and pressure of international cricket.

“…The fighting spirits is still there.”