Former Australian captain Mark Taylor has revealed his preferred XI for the first Test of the Ashes against England, starting on December 8 at the Gabba.
Australia has been rocked in the past week with Tim Paine standing down from the captaincy and then backing out of the series altogether after a previous off-field scandal was revealed.
It means Pat Cummins has become captain of the team, with Steve Smith returning to a leadership role as his deputy.
Paine's replacement is likely to come out of the Australia A squad, which was picked for a warm-up game with the Australians in Brisbane next week.
Both Alex Carey and Josh Inglis are in that squad, however, Taylor said Carey was the front-runner when speaking on Channel 9s Wide World of Sports program on Sunday morning.
"I think it has got to be Alex Carey," Taylor said.
"Carey I've got instead of Josh Inglis, although Josh Inglis has been in the T20 side recently and is putting a bit of pressure on, but Carey has been around for a while and is a past captain of the Australian one-day side. I've got him in there just for experience."
Taylor also earmarked another battle in the side, handing Marcus Harris the opening spot alongside David Warner, meaning Travis Head and Usman Khawaja would be duelling over number five.
Taylor also earmarked the importance of the Australia and Australia A clash next week, however, Brisbane's weather could yet play spoilt sport to that game, meaning the selectors may have to go in blind.
Both Head and Khawaja have displayed form in the Sheffield Shield, albeit inconsistently.
"The side has obviously changed this week," Taylor said.
"I've got Travis Head in at number five, just ahead of Usman Khawaja, but there is an inter-team trial match starting very shortly where Khawaja and Head will go head-to-head.
"There is an unsettled look about this team that I wasn't expecting to be talking about two weeks out from the first Test."
Taylor didn't elaborate on the other likely selection battle between Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood for the final pace-bowling spot, however, handed it to Starc, with Richardson to line up as 12th man despite displaying some outstanding form in the Sheffield Shield.
Mark Taylor's preferred Australian XI
1. David Warner
2. Marcus Harris
3. Marnus Labuschagne
4. Steve Smith (vc)
5. Travis Head
6. Cameron Green
7. Alex Carey (wk)
8. Pat Cummins (c)
9. Mitchell Starc
10. Josh Hazlewood
11. Nathan Lyon
12th man: Jhye Richardson
