As Cricket Australia (CA) attempts to shield its young pacemen from burn-out injuries, Peter Siddle is putting his hand up to bowl himself into the ground this summer.

The seasoned and lion-hearted Siddle says he hopes to play all six Tests this summer against South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Fellow pacemen Ben Hilfenhaus and youngsters James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc have been included alongside Siddle and spinner Nathan Lyon in the 12-man Australian squad for the first Test against the Proteas in Brisbane from November 9, with one of those five bowlers expected to carry the drinks.

While Siddle is a certainty to play in Brisbane, young NSW pace bowler Pat Cummins is already in the selectors’ minds for the third Test against South Africa in Perth on November 30.

Asked on Tuesday if he could play all six Tests in the current climate of rotating pace bowlers, Siddle said: “That’s the plan.

“You always want to play as many as you can,” the 32-Test veteran said.

“I’ve been lucky enough over the last two summers that I’ve played every Test match.

“That’s something that I’ll be trying to do again.”

And Siddle said he would relish taking on a big workload in the matches.

I’ve always been like that. I like to have the ball in my hand.

“I like to do anything I can for the captain and for the team. If that situation comes up and I do have to bowl those long spells, I will.

“There’s a lot of young blokes around the squad and they’re developing as well, Starc, Pattinson, Cummins.”

Siddle, who has shed five kilograms during the winter as part of his new vegetarian diet, has taken nine wickets in three Sheffield Shield games this season.

He says another four-day game against Western Australia starting on Thursday at the MCG will provide the perfect preparation for the Test summer.

“I’ll get through enough overs. I’ll feel ready,” he said.

“The body’s feeling good. I’ve got good rhythm at the crease.

“Another good hit-out this week and get up to Brisbane and get started.”