James Pattinson and Peter Siddle are primed and ready to fire if called up for the fifth Ashes Test in London, where selectors have some massive calls to make regarding Australia's attack.
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Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns and coach Justin Langer have opted for a blend of new-age sports science and old-school gut feel in deciding which fast bowlers to send out for each Test.
They are yet to decide whether to wrap Pat Cummins, who has made it clear he wants to back up in the series finale beginning on Thursday despite a tight turnaround, in cotton wool.
Omitting Cummins, the top-ranked Test bowler in the world, or Josh Hazlewood, in career-best form, would be a blow to Australia's hopes of banking their first Ashes series win in England since 2001.
But the prospect of Cummins and Hazlewood sitting on the sidelines for a long stretch would be a nightmare for Australia, whose batsmen's blushes have been spared by Steve Smith and an attack Nathan Lyon declared is the world's best.
"It'll be fascinating to see how they pull up. I know a lot goes into winning a Test match like that (at Old Trafford), so we'll see how they pull up," Langer told reporters.
"Whatever happens, we're lucky to have a couple of other guys who are raring to go if we need them.
"James Pattinson is jumping out of his skin to play the next Test.
"Peter Siddle, his first two Tests, he was probably the stand-out bowler actually."
The burden on Cummins, who has delivered 164.1 overs in this series - more than any other fast bowler from either side, has been particularly immense.
Cummins' 48 overs in the fourth Test represented his second highest workload in a Test, only lower than his 53 overs in Cape Town last year.
The right-armer suffered a back injury after that ill-fated tour of South Africa and Langer will be desperate to avoid a repeat.
The fact Australia bowled on four consecutive days to complete a 185-run win in Manchester is another key piece of data in the debate.
Selectors loaded up with six quicks in their 17-man touring party; uncapped Michael Neser is the only member of the battery yet to feature in at least two Tests during the series.
Pattinson, making his international comeback after three and a half years, has been managed with particular care.
Sharing the load is designed to help decrease the risk of injury, while also ensuring bowlers are fresh and able to deliver their best in Tests.
Langer praised every quick in the squad for buying "into this concept of everyone working together as a unit".
Australian Associated Press
