New South Wales fast bowler Brett Lee will be made to wait on the selectors' decision for the first Test against Pakistan in Perth.
Lee has not played a Test for Australia since January, but showed a massive improvement in his form in the recent one-day series against New Zealand. His hostile pace will be of greatest use to Australia in Perth and, in the build up to the first Test, the media has been rife with speculation on his return to the starting XI.
Australian selector Allan Border revealed to Inside Cricket that the skipper would have an important say in who cracked the nod in Perth.
"If the captain is so strong in favour of a player," he explained, "you would be reluctant to go against that as a selector. I would be.
"Whoever is over there will take Ricky Ponting and the senior guys' verdict to heart and then we'll make a decision. It will be a tough one."
If Lee is to find a way into the starting XI, Australia are most likely to drop a batsman, or replace Michael Kasprowicz. Both moves are filled with risk, as Pakistan have a very powerful pace attack of their own and the current trio of fast bowlers have been unrivalled in Test cricket.
In Lee greatest favour is the admiration of his skipper. Ricky Ponting recently told Sportal Australia just how close the seamer is to a return to Test cricket.
"He bowled very quick down in Melbourne and bowled very quick in Sydney the other night," the skipper said.
"Just judging that - and knowing how fit he is and how much he's wanting it - I don't think he's very far away at all."
Australia's first Test against Pakistan starts in Perth this Thursday.