Cam Green has declared he will not be under any bowling restrictions by the time the Ashes starts, and is up for the challenge of batting at No.3 as an allrounder.
Green hasn't bowled in a match since undergoing radical spinal surgery last October after suffering his fifth stress fracture.
That will change when he makes his bowling return in Western Australia's Sheffield Shield opener against NSW at the WACA ground, starting Saturday.
Green will be restricted to just eight overs for the match, but will build up steadily in the ensuing Shield matches and ODIs for Australia.
In total, Green expects to play three Shield matches as well as Australia's one-day series against India before the Ashes begins at Perth's Optus Stadium on November 21.
"It's been a long 12 months, but feeling really good," Green said on Friday, before adding he was feeling no apprehension ahead of his bowling return.
"The body's in a good place. It's been a really good rehab journey. I feel stronger, fitter, my action feels good.
"It will be eight overs for the (Shield) game. Just a steady build-up.
"The first Test should be no restrictions. That's kind of the whole plan of the last year.
"That's why it's been such a slow build up - so that you're peaking by the time the Ashes comes around."
Green is slated to bat at No.4 for WA in their Shield opener, but it's highly likely he will slot in at No.3 during the Ashes.
Since making his Test return in June - as a batter only - Green has been batting at first drop.
There are big questions as to whether Green can handle the workload of batting so high in the order and also bowling crucial overs.
But with fellow allrounder Beau Webster also in the Test side, Green is confident of being able to bat at first drop.
"Shane Watson used to open the batting and bowl," Green said.
"People probably don't realise how tough that was.
"Spending so long in the field bowling, and then expected to go out there and bat the last 10 overs of the day for example, is really challenging.
"But I think I'm in a bit of a different place. Let's say I'm batting up the top, and Beau's batting six, for example - he might take more of the (bowling) load."
Rising star Sam Konstas will be part of a strong NSW line-up for the upcoming match at the WACA, with the opening rounds of the Shield season a huge chance for the 20-year-old to push his case to open in the Ashes.
Konstas struggled badly during the 3-0 Test series win in the West Indies, but has since rebounded with some strong displays for Australia A against India A in India.
The wunderkind had come into the XI in place of Marnus Labuschagne, dropped after making starts at the top of the order in the World Test Championship Final.
Nathan McSweeney, Josh Inglis and Kurtis Patterson are among the other aspiring Test players that could block Labuschagne's path back into the batting order for the summer.
Once the ICC's top-rated Test batter, Labuschagne had been a mainstay of the Australian set-up since his Test debut in 2018 but had averaged only 16.16 in Tests this calendar year.
"I haven't been on this side of the fence for a few years," Labuschagne said.
"I know if I'm playing at my best, I'll be in the team. That's what I truly believe.
"This pressure is no different than where the pressure's been my whole career."
