Australia's selectors are mulling over the best strategy for getting leading fast bowler Glenn McGrath fit for the Ashes series starting in November.
The 36-year-old missed tours of South Africa and Bangladesh this year to help his wife Jane recover from cancer, but with her health improving he is now ready to step up his bid to face England.
"We're going to sit down with the coaching staff and map out Glenn's fitness and how he needs to best get back into playing cricket again," chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch told Australian Associated Press on Tuesday.
One of the key areas of discussion will be whether to send McGrath, Test cricket's third highest wicket taker with 542 victims in 119 matches, to India in October for the one-day Champions Trophy.
STRONG SIDE
"That will be something we'll talk through with Glenn and the Australian coaches," Hilditch said. "We need to make sure Glenn's programme is exactly as he wants it and we need it to be so he's ready to play in the Ashes."
Hilditch is not paying too much attention to England's poor form since last year's 2-1 series win over Australia.
"The reality I think is they'll come ready to retain the Ashes and I think they'll be a very strong side," Hilditch said. "We'll have to play at our very, very best to beat England.
"Whatever they've been doing in the last few months and in the next few months, I think come Ashes time it is going to be all fairly irrelevant."
Australia coach John Buchanan also played down the likely absence of injured England captain Michael Vaughan whose leadership was a major factor in Australia's first Ashes defeat since 1987.
"They will be relishing the challenge of trying to win without Vaughan," Buchanan said.
"There's no doubt Vaughan is a very important player and is rated exceptionally in terms of captaincy, but they will have months to prepare and plan for not having him for the Ashes and there are plenty of other danger men in their side."
