Warner, Hazlewood set for first Test

Australia coach Darren Lehmann is confident star opener David Warner will be fit to take his place in the XI for the first Test against Sri Lanka starting on Tuesday.

Warner didn't feature in either the intra-squad hit-out or this week's tour match, with the team vice-captain restricted to light batting sessions in the Colombo nets.

Quick Single: Smith's side makes desired statement

It's now been more than six weeks since Warner broke his left index finger during the ODI tri-series in the Caribbean and Lehmann hasn't been given any indication that a change will need to be made at the top of the order.

"He's been batting the last couple of days so I can't see a problem," Lehmann told reporters as the team made its way from Colombo to Kandy today.

"I assume he'll bat, I haven't really spoken to the medical staff but they normally come up to me if there's some sort of issue so we're expecting him to play."

Another Australian to miss out on the three-day tour match against the Sri Lankan Board XI was paceman Josh Hazlewood.

Much has been made of the 25-year-old's growing workload across each format, with Lehmann suggesting his reliable quick had enough overs under the belt leading into the Test series.

Quick Single: Hazlewood's bid to be Australia's iron man

"He's had a fair bit (of cricket), he's been in the West Indies and played the two-dayer and had a good bowl there," the Bupa Support Team head coach said.

"And having a look at the (Colombo) wicket, it's probably not what we're going to get in Kandy, there will probably be less grass than that so (we'll) give him a bowl on the flatter wickets there.

"He's fine and ready to go, (we're) just making sure he's right."

Hazlewood's new-ball partner Mitchell Starc showed glimpses of his destructive form during last week's practice match and in the three-day match.

Starc claimed match figures of 4-60 from 16 overs, highlighted by a pair of stump-shattering dismissals that have become a feature of his game.

While conditions are almost certainly going to favour spin throughout the three-Test series, Starc's strike power is shaping up to be a key factor for the visitors.

Quick Single: Reverse swing key to SL Tests: Donald

Lehmann was keen to downplay the lead-up performances from his pace spearhead as Starc closes in on his first Test in nearly eight months.

"Obviously he was a bit rusty and then a little bit rusty (in this match)," Lehmann said.

"But he gets early wickets and he bowled a lot better today with the new ball."