Perth Scorchers won't waste any time welcoming banned opener Cameron Bancroft back into the fold when his nine-month suspension ends.
Bancroft hasn't played top-flight cricket since the infamous ball-tampering Test in Cape Town in March but is free to return to the game at all levels on December 29.
The Scorchers have a Big Bash match the following day against Hobart and coach Adam Voges told Cricket's Australia's The Unplayable Podcast he expected Bancroft to make his return in that game.
"I see a real possibility that he'll come straight back in for that game," Voges said.
"A lot will just depend on how we're going at the time.
"There'll be some opportunity for a number of our other batsmen in those first three games and much will be dependent probably on how they go.
"But I thought Cam, when he played for the Scorchers last year, he did a really good job, batted at three and played some really good innings for us.
"He's an important part of our squads in all forms of the game, so I see him certainly putting his hand up to come straight back in."
Bancroft has spent his summer playing for Willetton in Perth - making 196 runs at an average of 39.2 in five innings with a high score of 95.
Any possible earlier return of Bancroft is still the subject of a submission from the Australian Cricketers' Association, which is expected to be looked at by Cricket Australia (CA) in the next fortnight.
That also remains the same for David Warner and Steve Smith, whose bans were for 12 months and extend until the end of March.
Once back, Bancroft will have four Sheffield Shield matches with Western Australia to push his case for Test selection in next year's Ashes.
The 25-year-old was just eight Tests into his international career when he was found guilty of ball-tampering by the International Cricket Council, prompting CA's ban for bringing the game into disrepute.
Australian Associated Press
