Matthew Wade insists he’d have no regrets about being moved to the top of the order even if he was squeezed out by David Warner and Will Pucovski.
Warner is favoured to return and open for Australia in the third Test against India beginning at the SCG on Thursday, despite admitting he could still be below full fitness.
Pucovski is also edging closer to a Test debut after completing a second straight net session in his battle to overcome a concussion.
Wade is preparing to open but does not know if he will bat there, in the middle order or miss out all together in Sydney with the series locked 1-1.
The left-hander filled in as an opener when Australia needed someone to partner Joe Burns at the start of the India series.
Travis Head’s poor run of form will likely mean that even if Pucovski and Warner both play, he’d be the favourite to miss out, with Wade moving to No.5.
But if Australia’s selectors did stick with youth and play Head at Wade’s expense, the Tasmanian said he would still be happy he made the move for long-term advantages.
“There were no (assurances given), Justin (Langer) spoke to me and asked if I’d be comfortable to do it,” Wade said.
“It didn’t worry me too much in terms of David coming back. I saw it as an opportunity to show that I was versatile enough to to bat from one to seven.
“I’ve batted in pretty much every position in the Test line up.
“I saw it as a real positive opportunity and going forward on tours then they’ve got someone that can cover every position if something does go wrong.
“Obviously, I can wicketkeep as well if something happened to Tim.”
Wade has made three scores between 30 and 40 to go with his his first-up effort of eight at the top of the order.
Wade insisted that he and Warner could work as a pair if Pucovski didn’t play, believing they weren’t too aggressive as a combination.
But all eyes remain on Pucovski, who is set to continue his push in the Sydney nets this week some four weeks after a blow to the head denied him what appeared a certain debut in Adelaide.
“He looks ready to go,” Wade said on Sunday.
“We didn’t know if he’d come back at all and for him to come back and put his hand up for selection shows me that he wants to be here.
“He seems in a really good place seems eager to get back around the team and wants to play Test cricket.
“So that’s a positive for everyone in Australian cricket.”