Cricket prodigy Will Pucovski could be close to returning to form, with Victoria coach Chris Rogers revealing the 25-year-old is in "the best position he's ever been" after battling mental health issues.
Pucovski hasn't been in the best form in this Sheffield Shield season, scoring 112 runs at 16, however he has shuffled between the opener's spot and No.3.
Despite not recording a big score, Rogers believes it's only a matter of time before his name enters consideration to replace David Warner ahead of his final Test summer.
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"He could definitely be back in the baggy green," Rogers told the Willow Talk Cricket Podcast.
"Without trying to give too much away, the concussions probably have masked what is the bigger issue for Will.
"He's been dealing with some more mental health issues that the concussions brought to life a lot more.
"He was playing cricket in England (this year), and he got hit in the head and he kept batting.
"If you know what Will had been through, he'd had some times where the ball flicked his head and he was out for a month. It wasn't really concussion we were dealing with, it was a lot of the other issues.
"He's been working through that for a long, long time and now I could comfortably say this is the best position he's ever been.
"He's coming through games happy, he's recovering well and the interesting thing now is it's more about the cricket and batting whereas before all he's ever thought about was getting through a game.
"So now he's focusing on the batting, probably hasn't got the runs he wants but that will click for him very shortly and you know Will is such a class player, if he gets a run on, his name will be right up there again."
With the Prime Minister's XI side named on Thursday to play Pakistan, Pucovski's run of form appears to have cost him a spot with Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Matthew Renshaw preferred as top order batters.
Harris' selection continues his presence in the Australian setup, and Rogers believes he'll likely be the man to replace Warner.
"Harris is centrally contracted, I think the Aussie selectors have tipped their hat from that point of view," he said.
"The interesting thing is Bancroft and Renshaw started off like a house on fire and Marcus, he missed the first game because of the birth of his child … it's timing.
"And now those guys have kind of missed out, haven't posted the big scores and Marcus has had a couple of big scores, it could be just right time, right place, but I'd like to think Marcus will get the first chance.
"He's had a few goes now, and sometimes it just takes a few goes to understand what you need to do to be successful at that level."
Bancroft is currently the leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield, with 505 runs at 63.12.
Renshaw has 305 runs at 33.88, having opened in all five of his matches this season.
Nathan McSweeney will captain the PM's XI and is third on the run-scorers list with 456 at 50.66 while Beau Webster has also been rewarded for his form, hitting 487 runs at 97.40.
Test representatives Bancroft, Renshaw, Harris, Cameron Green, Todd Murphy and Michael Neser headline the players picked in the squad.
Prime Minister's XI squad:
Nathan McSweeney (c) (SA – Glenelg Cricket Club)
Cameron Bancroft (WA – Willetton Premier Cricket Club)
Cameron Green (WA – Subiaco Floreat Cricket Club)
Marcus Harris (VIC – St Kilda Cricket Club)
Nathan McAndrew (SA – Woodville District Cricket Club)
Todd Murphy (VIC – St Kilda Cricket Club)
Michael Neser (QLD – Gold Coast District Cricket Club)
Jimmy Peirson (QLD – Redlands Cricket Club)
Matthew Renshaw (QLD – Toombul District Cricket Club)
Mark Steketee (QLD – Valley District Cricket Club)
Beau Webster (TAS – Kingborough District Cricket Club)
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