Usman Khawaja has been rested for a second-straight Sheffield Shield match as Cricket Australia attempt to manage his workload ahead of the Test summer.
Khawaja was on Tuesday left out of Queensland's squad to take on Tasmania this week with the Bulls confirming it was due to workload concerns.
The 36-year-old has long insisted there is no planned end date on his Test career after making the most of a final life offered by selectors last year.
But both Australia and Queensland are keen to give the opener time to remain fresh.
He sat out a Shield match against Victoria in Mackay earlier this month before the latest call to miss the Blundstone Arena match that starts on Thursday.
The Bulls have another three Shield matches between now and Australia's first Test against Pakistan in Perth on December 14.
"Usman Khawaja will remain in Brisbane and miss the match with Cricket Australia undertaking a proactive management plan for national squad players ahead of an intense international schedule at home and in the first half of 2024," Queensland Cricket said in a statement.
Khawaja's predicament highlights the workload pressures on Australia's multi-format stars.
Eight of Australia's first-choice Test XI are in India playing in the ODI World Cup, including all three frontline quicks in Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
The majority of the group are likely to be brought home after the tournament rather than stay on for three T20s against India, although there is some chance Smith will remain behind.
Australia have three Tests against Pakistan, two against the West Indies and another two against New Zealand away from home in late February and early March.
