Australia’s XI for the tour match against Pakistan A looks close to a likely Test side and uncapped duo Steve O’Keefe and Mitchell Marsh could be the big winners.

Electing to bat, Pakistan A were 2-87 at lunch after the first session of a non first-class fixture that will feature up to 15 players per side.

With an eye to the first Test on October 22, Australia on Wednesday named Phil Hughes to open in the absence of David Warner, who has a groin strain and is battling to be fit for the main event.

Should Warner fail to prove his fitness, Hughes could be the man to open alongside Chris Rogers with Alex Doolan at No.3.

Michael Clarke, Steve Smith and Marsh in the middle order followed by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, pace bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle and spinners Nathan Lyon and O’Keefe complete the XI for the tour game with back-up seamer Ben Hilfenhaus as a “playing 12th man”.

Clarke, who isn’t a selector, said he wouldn’t be surprised to see Australia pick two frontline spinners for the Dubai Test.

“If the wicket’s going to spin I can see two spinners playing a part,” Clarke told reporters.

“I’ll definitely talk to (chairman of selectors) Rod Marsh and (coach) Darren Lehmann about that.”

Pace bowler Marsh suffered a hamstring strain on September 30. The 22-year-old West Australian is not expected to bowl until Pakistan A’s second innings but has resumed bowling in the nets.

On Wednesday Johnson struck in the third over when Shan Masood was caught behind for six .

Siddle also made a breakthrough in the following over to remove Israr Ullah caught at third slip for five.

NSW spinner O’Keefe claimed 0-18 off 10 tidy overs in the morning session. The left-armer bowled the seventh over of the match while Lyon took 0-29 from his 10 overs.

Test opener Ahmed Shehzad was unbeaten on 46 while Babar Azam was undefeated on 25 for Pakistan A.