Pat Cummins has been left out of Australia's squad for the second Ashes Test, while Usman Khawaja remains a chance to hold on to his spot at the Gabba.
Australia's selectors on Friday named an unchanged 14-man squad for the second Test against England, with Cummins to again travel with the team and train.
A call on the final XI won't be made until closer to Thursday, when the series resumes in Brisbane, with questions lingering around Khawaja's form and fitness.
By naming the same 14-man group, selectors have kept their options open on either Khawaja or Travis Head opening with Jake Weatherald next week.
Theoretically, the door is also still slightly ajar for Cummins to play in the day-night match, despite being left out of the squad, given he will travel with the team.
Australia's pace ace spent a little over an hour bowling with a pink ball to Steve Smith in the SCG nets on Friday morning, boosting hopes of a return.
The 32-year-old is yet to be cleared to return to play, and while it would be unconventional, there is nothing stopping Australia bringing him into the team late.
Cummins has not played in a match since Australia completed a clean sweep of West Indies in July, when he first noticed soreness in his back.
After being ruled out of the first Test in Perth, both he and coaching staff had eyed off Brisbane as a potential return.
It is understood Cummins has not suffered any further injury, but it is no doubt in selectors' minds that there are tighter turnarounds in the last three Tests of the series.
One other hurdle would likely be Cummins' ability to bowl long spells on back-to-back days, as could be required if England's batting improves in Brisbane.
Selectors have listed Smith to again captain in Cummins' place, and the superstar batter is also down to fulfil pre-match media duties on the day before the Test.
Assuming Cummins does miss, Brendan Doggett will likely hold his spot in Australia's bowling attack after taking 5-78 across two innings on debut last week.
Beyond Cummins, Josh Hazlewood also remains confident of returning in the second half of the series after bowling in the nets alongside his usual skipper on Friday.
Hazlewood bowled for about 45 minutes on a shortened run, after a hamstring strain ruled him out of Australia's eight-wicket win in Perth.
The other question for selectors is Khawaja, after his back spasms prompted Head's move to opener and his match-winning century in the fourth innings in Perth.
Khawaja is desperate to overcome back spasms and feature at the Gabba, but there are growing calls for Head to move to open permanently.
That would allow Beau Webster or Josh Inglis to return in the middle order, with Matt Renshaw's hopes of playing at the Gabba also over after being left out of the squad.
Khawaja's 232 in Sri Lanka last January is one of just two scores the 38-year-old has made above 50 in his past 27 Test innings.
AUSTRALIA'S SQUAD FOR SECOND ASHES TEST: Steve Smith (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
