Signs of Australia's schedule squeeze are already showing but chairman of selectors George Bailey knows the answer isn't asking players to sit out the lucrative IPL.
David Warner and Mitch Marsh, arguably Australia's two most important match-winners in last year's Twenty20 World Cup triumph, have been rested from next month's T20 series against Sri Lanka.
Coach Justin Langer will also be absent throughout the five-match series on February 11-20, when Andrew McDonald will instead take the reins at the SCG, Manuka Oval an MCG.
There were fears that selectors could be forced to pick separate squads for those white-ball games and the ensuing three-Test series in Pakistan, which starts on March 3.
That has not transpired, while Bailey noted on Tuesday that no player has come forward yet to make themselves unavailable for the landmark tour of Pakistan.
Australia's multi-format stars nonetheless face a busy stretch, with the multi-format Pakistan trip to be followed by the IPL, a Test tour of Sri Lanka then a home T20 World Cup and summer of Test cricket.
Mitchell Starc has opted out of next month's IPL 'mega auction', when the addition of two new franchises is expected to result in record salaries.
But Test captain Pat Cummins and Warner are expected to be some of the most in-demand players at this year's IPL, which falls during Australian players' leave period.
"It's tough for the multi-format guys to work out that balance of where do they get time to physically replenish their energy reserves, particularly for fast bowlers," Bailey said.
"To make sure they are fit, strong and able to deal with the workload.
"But that's part and parcel of a modern cricketer's life.
"It (the IPL) continues to be a tournament that offers a huge amount to players.
"From a learning perspective and I don't think the monetary side of things can be discounted ... for a reasonably brief period of work, the pay days are pretty enormous for a certain percentage of them."
Bailey added the chance to work with different coaches and the world's best players was another obvious upside as Australia attempt to defend their T20 crown on home soil in October.
"That's a terrific opportunity," he said.
Cricket Australia (CA) is expected to make a call on the future of Langer in coming weeks, with his current contract set to expire soon after the tour of Pakistan.
CA is also yet to rubber stamp the side's first visit to Pakistan since 1998.
"I believe the boards are still working through some of the minor details around that tour. Once that gets the formal tick of approval, we'll announce the squad," Bailey said.
"The two (security) briefings that I've sat in on, the security sounds very, very robust."
Fit-again paceman Josh Hazlewood is poised to return from his side strain during the T20 series, while Travis Head, Ben McDermott, Moises Henriques and Jhye Richardson have been called up.
Australia's 16-man T20 squad: Aaron Finch (capt), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Josh Inglis, Ben McDermott, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.
