Australia insist they are unfazed by Mitchell Starc's expensive bowling in the World Test Championship final, adamant that his ability to take wickets is crucial for their balance.
Selectors will this week make one of their toughest calls in years when they pick their attack for Friday's first Ashes Test, with a fresh Josh Hazlewood fit to play.
Australia will assess on Monday how their quicks have pulled up from the 209-run Test Championship win over India.
If they are all injury-free as expected, Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc and Hazlewood face being squeezed into two spots with Pat Cummins safe as captain.
Boland has never been picked in a full-strength Australian attack when the entire pace cartel are available, but he starred in the final and now has 33 Test wickets at 14.57.
There remains a feeling he could be the man left out for Edgbaston, with former coach Justin Langer and ex-captain Ricky Ponting anticipating as such in recent days.
Australia will rotate their quicks through the Ashes, but their first line up is most interesting.
The other factor is Starc's returns against India, with England expected to target the left-armer with their aggressive batting.
The 34-year-old had the most expensive game of his career at The Oval, going at 5.34 an over.
But he also claimed the key wicket of Virat Kohli with a rising short ball in the first innings, and took 2-77 in the second.
"There's always a balance of attack," Australia coach Andrew McDonald said.
"Most our bowlers went at above what they'd usually go and we've just got to get our heads around that the tempo will be slightly different.
"We're a team that usually goes at that high two runs per over, here we could go at four runs an over.
"Mitch went at a bit more than that and he generally goes at, but they complement each other really, really well.
"His wicket-taking ability is second-to-none. We’ve got to weigh all that up when we make decisions."
McDonald also confirmed Starc had not opened in the second innings because Australia believed the Dukes ball swung more after a few overs, with the left-armer brought on first change.
Beyond his bowling, Australia like the fact he creates rough for Nathan Lyon to bowl into and offers batting depth at No.8.
Cummins also moved to defend Starc's pre-Ashes form after Sunday's win.
"He did a role for us that we know Starcy can do after 80 Test matches," Cummins said.
"He has got a huge tour ahead of him and will play a huge role for us.
"The English side sets up slightly different as well. There are a few more left-handers. The wicket is going to be a bit different.
"I'm really happy with where Starcy is."
