Australia captain Ricky Ponting is expected to play on Boxing Day after pulling through a one-hour net session pain free.
Ponting batted against a bowling machine in the indoor nets at the MCG before taking part in fielding practice facing some throw-downs from coach Tim Nielsen and also take on some of the net bowlers.
Vice-captain Michael Clarke said Ponting had told him he was pleased with the session.
"He said it felt pretty good after facing some balls on the machines and facing the bowlers (in the nets),” Clarke told a press conference.
"We're all hopeful and confident. Unless they cut his finger off, it's going to be really hard to leave Punter out.
"He's going to have to wait until tomorrow to see how it pulls up after having a bat today.
"But he's pretty happy with how things went today."
"Ricky definitely won't field in slips. He'll probably field at mid-off or mid-on,” Clarke said.
"As long as you're pretty close to seeing the line which the bowlers are bowling, it's probably better for the bowlers that Punt's there to be able to talk to them as well.
"He has fielded there plenty of times in one-day cricket so I don't think it makes much difference.”
Uncapped NSW youngster Usman Khawaja is still on standby for Ponting.
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