Khawaja ready to test hamstring

Usman Khawaja says he expects his hamstring to receive a searching test on Sunday when he makes his return from injury for the Sydney Thunder.

Khawaja has missed the past two Tests with a hamstring strain and must prove himself fit in the Thunder's Big Bash League (BBL) clash with the Melbourne Stars if he is to be included in the Australian XI for Boxing Day.

The top-order batsman said he was confident of being ready to take on the West Indies at the MCG from next Saturday and expected to know exactly where he stood following Sunday's hitout.

"If there's one thing that gets real sore after a T20 game, it's my hamstring," Khawaja said.

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"It's going to be a test and I'm not going to go out there and nurse it in any way because I want to test it. I don't want to go into the Boxing Day Test match not having that confidence.

"I want to go out pretty hard."

In Khawaja's absence, Shaun Marsh made the most of his opportunity in the first Test in Hobart with 182, making him hard to displace.

Khawaja was excellent in the opening two Tests of the summer against New Zealand, with two centuries, and said he would be happy slotting into any position in the top order.

The 29-year-old said he could not guarantee he wouldn't break down again but was comfortable with how his hamstring was feeling.

"If I had any doubts, I wouldn't go in but that's not to say I'm not under risk," Khawaja said.

"There's always a risk coming back from (hamstring) tears.

"I've done everything I possibly can to get back to this point. I'm confident but I can't predict the future."