STAR Bathurst cricketer and commentator Trent Copeland is expecting to see some new faces in Australia's batting line up come this month's first Test against Pakistan.
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While Australia's bowling attack for the first Test, which starts November 21, should not present any selection surprises, Copeland feels it could be a different story with the batting line-up.
The Bathurst seamer would not be surprised to see a change at both the top and in the middle order and as such, feels the Australia A XI versus Pakistan match starting in Perth on Monday is an ideal chance for hopefuls to stake their claims.
"The bowling attack is absolutely flying, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummings in this T20 series have been great and then Josh Hazlewood just played our last shield game and took 6-for in the second innings," Copeland said in a radio interview.
"I can tell you now, I was standing at first slip, not facing it, another 20 meters past that, and it was fast so he's ready and raring to go.
"[But batting] I think it's going to be probably one opening spot and who gets that gig, there's probably about four or five guys in the mix.
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"And then Travis Head stuck his hand up last week against us [New South Wales] with a really good first innings hundred and he'll certainly be in the mix for that number six spot probably with guys like Will Pucovski the youngster from Victoria and probably a handful of others playing in the Australia A game which is going to be crucial against Pakistan in Perth.
"So all eyes, including mine, will be on that game and whoever sticks their hand up could be looking at a full summer of Test positions."
Meanwhile, Copeland and his NSW team-mates will be hunting for their fourth Sheffield Shield win on the trot when hosting Western Australia at the SCG from Monday.
Copeland has been named in the 12-man squad alongside Australian Test players Nathan Lyon, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
It remains to be seen if Copeland will get a start given the returning bowlers, with Cummins certain to play his first shield match since round four last season at Manuka Oval where the Blues prevailed by 163 runs over Queensland.
The fixture will be the third shield match this season for Smith, Lyon and Starc.
