Matthew Renshaw and Peter Handscomb are currently starring in the Sheffield Shield, so much so that they may get one more shot in the Australian test side when they travel to India in February-March next year.
The conditions on Indian pitches are notoriously tricky for Australians, as the ball is known to spin far more than it does on local flat tracks down under. And while that may be great for Nathan Lyon or strong players of spin like Steve Smith, it's less suitable for the likes of David Warner and Travis Head.
Warner's form in India is poor. His average is 24.25 - his second-worst average across every nation he's played tests in; he's only worse in New Zealand. Renshaw's is 29, and while that isn't much better, his current form, which saw him recently go 200 not out for Queensland, might be enough to get him in the squad at least.
As for Handscomb, he's in much the same boat as Glenn Maxwell. With Travis Head's poor form overseas on show earlier this year in Pakistan and Sri Lanka (where he averaged just 22.66 and 7.66, respectively), the Aussie selectors might be tempted to drop him in favour of another specialist batsman.
While that could be Handscomb, who scored 238 not out for Victoria last week, it is more likely that Maxwell finally returns for his first test since 2017 after missing out to Head in Sri Lanka.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the duo are in the selection frame to face India next year.
This means Handscomb could come in for Alex Carey and don the gloves as wicketkeeper. But that will depend on Carey's form at home as he's never played in India before, and they may choose to give him a chance if he plays well this summer.
Neither player has any real chance of being deployed throughout the Australian summer because the current lineup is more or less set in stone on home soil, with Head and Warner being especially safe.
21-year-old Todd Murphy is also a chance to debut in India as Australia will likely look to use two spinners in each test. The youngster is attracting rave reviews for his recent performances, including six wickets across both innings against Victoria earlier this month.
However, Murphy will have to fight out leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson, and at this stage, it's Swepson's spot to lose, with Murphy only an outside chance of making the squad.
Australia's tour of India will be their first since 2017, and they will be looking for revenge against a side that has beaten them twice in a row at home.
