A side strain is threatening to stymie Josh Hazlewood's second consecutive summer, with the quick now racing the clock to prove his fitness for the series against South Africa.
Michael Neser replaced Hazlewood in the XI to face West Indies in the final match of the two-Test series, with the 31-year-old said to be experiencing "general soreness" after the opener.
But scans have since confirmed Hazlewood has come down with a mild strain in his left side.
"Hazlewood will return home tomorrow to continue his rehabilitation," a statement from Cricket Australia said.
"He will be reviewed again at the completion of the match to determine his availability moving forward."
Australia captain Pat Cummins, himself ruled out of the Adelaide Test with a quad strain, said he felt for Hazlewood.
"He's pretty understandably flat," Cummins told Channel 7 on Thursday.
"He was a little bit sore after the last Test match, had a bowl in the nets yesterday to prove his fitness and was a bit sorer than we'd all hoped."
Then-coach Justin Langer took a conservative approach to Hazlewood's fitness when he suffered a side strain last summer, playing him in only one of five Ashes Tests.
The injury, coupled with Andrew McDonald's decision to favour spin on the autumn tour of Pakistan, meant Hazlewood had played only one Test in 12 months before the series against West Indies began.
At the toss on Thursday, replacement captain Steve Smith hoped Hazlewood would be available for the first of three Tests against South Africa, which begins in Brisbane next Saturday.
"I'm not entirely sure (whether he will play)," Smith told Channel 7.
"I guess the medical staff will monitor him closely this week. Fingers crossed."
Whether or not he plays in Brisbane, Hazlewood's injury raises concerns over the management of Australia's fast bowlers at the beginning of a congested six months on the cricket calendar.
After the series against South Africa finishes on January 8, Australia will turn their attention to the tour of India in February and March before the Ashes begin in England in June.
Australia's dates for that tour of the subcontinent were finally set in stone on Thursday, with the first Test to be played in Nagpur from February 9.
Delhi, Dharamsala and Ahmedabad will then host the other matches - from February 17, March 1 and March 9 respectively - with Australia trying to win their first series in India since 2004.
