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Scott Bailey

Boland keeps spot ahead of Neser for Gabba

Scott Boland will retain his place in the Australia side for the first Test against South Africa. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Scott Boland will keep his spot for the first Test against South Africa after edging out Michael Neser to be Australia's preferred third seamer at the Gabba.

Captain Pat Cummins is expected to return from a quad injury for the opening Test of the series, with the bowler to undergo a final net session on Thursday.

Josh Hazlewood remains out, with Australia's medical staff hopeful he will be able to play in the final two Tests of the home summer in Melbourne and Sydney.

That still leaves Australia facing a fast-bowling squeeze in Brisbane, after Neser and Boland both impressed in last week's 419-run win over West Indies in Adelaide.

Queenslander Neser's home-ground knowledge of the Gabba had prompted some thought he could keep his spot, after taking five wickets for the match in Adelaide.

However, coach Andrew McDonald has confirmed Boland will be the one to play when the Test starts on Saturday after a year spent as Australia's fourth quick.

"Expect Scott to take that spot at the Gabba," McDonald said.

"That's the running line, and he's done nothing wrong."

"His record is amazing at the moment, so he'll take his place and the assumption is that Pat does play.

"So you've got Cummins, (Mitchell) Starc and Boland, with (Cameron) Green and (Nathan) Lyon to support around that."

McDonald said Boland had now proved his heroics at the MCG in the Ashes last summer was no one-off on his home pitch, with his best returns in Sheffield Shield cricket having come at the Gabba.

The right-armer has now taken 21 Test wickets at an average of 10.33.

"What's he averaging in the second innings - four, or something ridiculous like that?" McDonald said.

"So there is an expectation now because it's not just an outlier, it's happening every time."

McDonald also brushed aside concerns over Hazlewood's injury record, with the 31-year-old enduring a second straight interrupted summer with side strains.

Lance Morris has remained in Australia's squad, and while he is seen as a future Test bowler the speedster will also be used as a training aid given South Africa's pace battery.

While few of the West Indies' quicks were able to bowl above 130km/h, South Africa's attack is one of the most threatening in cricket.

Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje all bowl at speed, while 207cm left-armer Marco Jansen gives South Africa another option.

But McDonald was not concerned about the step up in opposition for his top order.

"They'll prepare the way they normally do," he said.

"We've got a couple of good fast bowlers they can prepare against as well, so we've got a bit of ball speed ourselves.

"It's like most other preparations.

"We saw (English quick) Mark Wood out here last year challenging our batters and we were able to navigate through that."

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