Australia are confident Travis Head will make his World Cup return against the Netherlands, as the opener moves closer to a comeback from his fractured hand.
Head had a second hit in India on Monday, with coaching staff to see how he pulls up on Tuesday before deciding whether he plays in Delhi on Wednesday.
Coaches are confident the early signs are good, after he had an initial hit on Saturday after touching down in the country five-and-a-half weeks after suffering the injury in South Africa.
"We're really optimistic he will be available," coach Andrew McDonald said on Monday.
"Across that session (on Saturday) he improved significantly. I think that is more just confidence in what he can and can't do.
"It's been really impressive the way he has gone about his recovery.
"We said at the start of the tournament there would be some risk associated with carrying an injured player, and some people didn't think it would be possible.
"But he is on the ground now and it is possible, so that's really exciting for us."
If picked, Head's return will prompt century-maker against Pakistan Mitch Marsh to drop down to No.3 and Steve Smith to No.4, with Marnus Labuschagne likely to be the man to drop out.
Head will also give Australia an extra spinning option, with the 29-year-old having been able to work on his right-arm offbreaks given the fracture has been in his left hand.
The South Australian said on the weekend he was happy to "to take things slow" if the team wants to err on the side of caution over his fitness, and hold off his comeback to against New Zealand this Saturday.
Speaking from Delhi after linking up with the team and having enjoyed a "really good hit" in the nets, Head declared: "Still a few things I need to tick off but I'm optimistic."
He's also confident the broken bone in his left hand has healed but needs to regain its strength and mobility after it's been in a splint for four weeks.
"We'll see what happens. If it continues on this rate, who knows. Keep doing things day-by-day to hopefully give yourself the best chance," Head said.
Head has now had four hits in the nets and has also been involved in fielding practice but "not at full tilt yet."
"Catching hasn't been an issue so far," he said.
"The progression over the next couple of days is to field and see where I'm at.
"I'll take it slow to make sure once I come back that I'm ready just to stay there."
The left-hander says he feels gratitude to selectors for being given the chance to return to the squad, especially having missed out on the 2019 tournament.
"It's not something that I expected at the time," Head said of the selectors' faith.
"Obviously there was a range of emotions through those three or four days after the injury to think that I missed a chance again to be involved in a World Cup.
"Now it's a case of day-by-day getting better and hopefully I can contribute at the end and, I guess, pay a bit of the faith back."
