Having already wrapped up the series, selectors have named an unchanged XII for next week's fourth Test against India at Adelaide Oval.
But with spinner Nathan Lyon a near certainty to return to the playing XI after carrying the drinks at the pace-friendly WACA Ground last week, it is likely to be either Mitchell Starc or Peter Siddle that he replaces.
Starc would be the obvious choice, having had only a moderate impact in the three Tests he has played this summer against New Zealand and India, even if he did claim the prized scalp of Sachin Tendulkar in the second innings in Perth.
But with Siddle having already played all five matches of the summer and selectors mindful of the risk of injury due to fast bowlers being overworked, there's every chance he will sit out with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy already regained.
With Ryan Harris only just back at international level following injury and having recently lost James Pattinson for the final two Tests because of a foot injury after the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Patrick Cummins were also ruled out by injury, selectors may decide to rest Siddle.
But chairman of selectors John Inverarity said in naming the squad that those concerns aren't as high as they were leading up to the Perth Test.
"The fact the Australians were able to dismiss India in only 60 and 63 overs in Perth and the extra two rest days because the Test finished early has meant that there is reduced concern about excessive workloads for the fast bowlers," Inverarity said.
There is also a school of thought that wicketkeeper Brad Haddin will need a big game in Adelaide to retain his place, having managed just 33 runs at 11 in this series and just two half-centuries in his past 17 innings, as well as at times being shaky behind the stumps.
He has perhaps been fortunate not to have come under more pressure before now with his heir apparent Tim Paine still sidelined by a finger injury but another big summer for Victoria by Matthew Wade has some calling for him to be promoted.
No.3 Shaun Marsh is another player who will be keen to make some runs in Adelaide after a managing just 14 runs in four innings so far this summer, a far cry from the debut century he made against Sri Lanka.
Having forced his way back into the Australian team for the final Test of last September's three-match series in Sri Lanka, Siddle has been a revelation as he has shouldered much of the load and regularly taken wickets at key intervals.
Never was that more evident than in the first Test against India at the MCG when with India seemingly cruising at 2-214 in reply to Australia's first-innings 333 he breached the defences of Tendulkar for 73 to spark a collapse of 8-68.
He hasn't been prolific, with his best haul since his return to the Test ranks 4-91 from 35 overs in that first game back but he has nonetheless captured 34 wickets in eight Tests in that period.
Australia 4th Test squad:
Michael Clarke (c), Brad Haddin (v-c), Ed Cowan, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mike Hussey, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, David Warner