Hamstrung skipper Michael Clarke has ruled himself out of Australia’s three-day match against India A starting on Saturday but remains confident he’ll play in the first Test on February 22.

Not only that, the occasional left-arm spinner says he’s planning to use himself and part-time leggie David Warner in the bowling attack.

Specialist spinners Nathan Lyon, Xavier Doherty and 19-year-old Ashton Agar are in a bowl-off during the three-day game, with one of them likely to drop out for the start of the four-Test series.

In a side lacking the vast experience of recently retired batting greats Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting, the fitness of Clarke is a crucial part of Australia’s hopes of pulling off just their second Test series win in India in nine attempts.

“My expectation is for Davey Warner and I to both be able to bowl. I’ll be bowling,” Clarke told AAP on Friday.

“With my hamstring, the major concern is the sprinting. Chasing the ball in the field, sprinting between the wickets, that’s the area where I will continue to build my strength and do my rehab so I can do that at a hundred per cent.

“That’s probably the main reason for not playing the three-day game.

“I’ve improved a lot since not playing the last one-dayer in Australia (in Melbourne last Sunday against the West Indies).

“Rather than going into a game where it’s uncontrolled running, I want to keep building my running up so, come the first Test, it’s fine.”

Captain/selector Clarke said the decision to not play against India A came after consultation with team physio Alex Kountouris.

“It’s about Alex and I communicating and making the right decision for the team with the priority being the first Test,” said Clarke, Test cricket’s No.2-ranked batsman.

“I wanted to play this three-dayer for my own personal preparation, but not if it’s going to jeopardise my chances of playing in the first Test, or the second Test.

“I’ll do all my preparation on the training paddock rather than out in the middle.”