David Warner says he's yet to speak to chief selector Trevor Hohns over the identity of his preferred opening partner, but nominated next month's Australia A match against India as a bat-off for the position.
Both incumbent Joe Burns and Victorian prodigy Will Pucovski have been included in Australia's 17-man squad for the Test series, although the pair have had vastly different starts to the summer.
Burns made just 57 runs in five innings for Queensland, while Pucovski became the first player in more than 20 years to make consecutive Sheffield Shield double centuries.
Hohns made it clear Warner would have a say in who he opens the batting with, a comment that bemused former Test captains Mark Taylor and Ricky Ponting.
Warner stopped short of directly endorsing either candidate, but made a strong case for the retention of Burns.
"Whoever they go with, I'll be happy with, as long as the person does their job," he said.
"I don't think Joe did anything wrong last summer, we put on some great partnerships, averaged over 60 and that's what you want from your opening partnerships.
"It's on the selectors to be pick the team and I've got to be happy with that and embrace it."
Warner pointed to Australia's record last summer, where the side won all five Test matches played, and noted his partnership with Burns had laid a strong platform on a number of occasions, most notably against Pakistan in Brisbane, where they added 222.
"I've batted time with Joe Burns before, I know exactly what we're about when we're out there," he said.
"Obviously, we won a lot of games last year, so for me you don't break something that's working. It's usually the opposite, when things aren't going your way you've got find solutions."
Australian coach Justin Langer has conceded Burns has the inside running to retain his spot, indicating that he favours stability and incumbency.
Former skipper Ian Chappell told Wide World of Sports earlier this month that it's a "bloody gamble" to open with Burns, urging selectors to hand Pucovski a baggy green cap.
Chappell said Australia was "going nowhere" with the 31-year-old Burns, arguing that Pucovski had nothing left to prove at domestic level.
Pucovski has twice been on the cusp of a Test debut in the past, only to stand aside to deal with mental health issues.
Warner acknowledged that should Pucovski get the nod, he's more than ready.
"To get into the Australian team you've got to put numbers on the board. Will's an exceptional talent and a great player," he said.
"He's batting fantastic. He's been in and out of the Test squad, obviously, he removed himself in some sad times with his mental stuff.
"For him, he's in the right frame of mind at the moment, there probably is an opportunity for him to come into the team but as we know, it's harder to get out of this team than get in."
Warner said he'll be upfront with Hohns should the national selector seek his views, but believes the situation could become a lot clearer in the coming weeks.
"If they come to me and ask me, I'll speak honestly but with me and Joe, we're good friends off the field as well," he said.
"We know how to get off strike with each other, we run hard between wickets. But that's what you normally do as a cricketer, if Will's there he's not going to do anything different.
"It's about building that bond and relationship. At the end of the day, we're the two that go out there all the time when we face up, you've got to have that bond and partnership.
"This next Australia A game is going to be the tell-all, it could be the bat-off for that position.
"It's going to be interesting to see, it's up to the selectors to pick the team at the end of the day, not me."
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