NSW teenager Sam Konstas will get an early chance to press his case for a stunning Test debut as he prepares to open with Marcus Harris for Australia A.

Harris was expected to partner West Australian Cameron Bancroft ahead of the India A clash in Mackay.

But when the teams were named on Thursday, Konstas was listed at the top of the order, with Bancroft next.

Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney, who bats at No.3 for South Australia and is another contender to fill the Test opening slot, is set to go at No.4.

McSweeney won the toss but elected to send India A into bat as the tourists slumped to 4-76 at lunch.

Newly-signed Australia coach Andrew McDonald played down the prospect that Australia A “bat-off” will completely decide who will partner Usman Khawaja in the first Test against India in Perth next month.

“There’s a lot of context and consideration around the body of work for those senior players in Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft,” McDonald said Thursday.

“It’s clear that Sam Konstas hasn’t been able to get that body of work at the back because of the limited overs Shield cricket he’s played and Nathan McSweeney is somewhere in the middle.

“You take Sam for example, he’s had limited experience in Perth and obviously up to the Gabba, so there are incredible challenges for players who haven’t played in those conditions before, but it doesn’t mean he can’t do it. either – learn fast.

“Marcus Harris – of course, it wasn’t that long ago (December 2021) when he played a dazzling innings here (at the MCG) against England.”

South Australian quicks Jordan Buckingham and Brendan Doggett impressed early against India, taking two wickets each.