'I'm just out of runs': Warner wins support

David Warner insists he remains in form and full of confidence despite a lack of runs as former selector Mark Waugh labelled him a lock for the first Test of the summer.

Warner will play his first game for Australia on home soil since the Cape Town scandal in Sunday's opening Gillette T20 INTL against Sri Lanka, but his focus remains partly on the red ball.

The opener has scored more than 20 just twice in his past 15 first-class innings for state and country, with the only highlights being a half-century in the Ashes and a hundred against Queensland last week.

Despite having endured his toughest Test series in England where he averaged just 9.50, Warner says he is still hitting the ball well before next month's series against Pakistan.

"I'm not out of form, just out of runs," Warner said at Thursday's Fox Cricket launch.

"I scored a hundred the other day at the Gabba, so for me it's about going out there and putting back-to-back performances on the board.

"My confidence is always high.

"Obviously it's the first time in my career I have been under a bit of pressure and I hadn't scored runs.

"We've got to come back here on home soil and score some runs and I did that in Queensland the other day."

Warner's return for Australia in the Twenty20 format over the next fortnight means he will miss NSW's next Marsh Sheffield Shield match against South Australia and rush back for his final Shield hit

out before the first Domain Test of the summer, against Pakistan on November 21-25.

"It's a little disappointing with the scheduling but we've had that for many years and can't do anything about that," Warner said.

"I play all three formats and I have to do put my best foot forward to what I do.

"I'm in the Twenty20 team and I have to participate in that."

Warner's form is one of several issues confounding selectors in the lead up to the first Test.

With two Shield rounds to play, no batsman has put their hand up to open or fill the No.6 roll.

Warner at least has runs on the board in Australia, with his average of 59.64 at home part of the reason why Waugh insists he should play at the Gabba.

"I would lock in four batsmen at the moment. David Warner, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Wade (for the first Test),” said Waugh, who was a selector up until 18 months ago.

"I know Davey hasn't scored the runs he would like but I was told his hundred was very good up in the Shield match up there back on home soil.

"I think he is a lock in. He will do well this summer and I would definitely have him in."

Gillette T20 INTLs v Sri Lanka

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, David Warner, Adam Zampa

Sri Lanka squad: Lasith Malinga (c), Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Oshada Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha

October 27: First T20I, Adelaide Oval, 2pm (Fox & Kayo)

October 30: Second T20I, Gabba, 6.10pm (Fox & Kayo)

November 1: Third T20I, MCG, 7.10pm (Fox & Kayo)

Gillette T20 INTLs v Pakistan

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir.

November 3: First T20I, SCG, 2.30pm (Fox & Kayo)

November 5: Second T20I, Manuka Oval, 7.10pm (Fox & Kayo)

November 8: Third T20I, Perth Stadium, 4.30pm (Fox & Kayo)