He wants to be a star No.3: Paine on Marnus

Australia captain Tim Paine says Marnus Labuschagne is determined to establish himself as a star No.3 in the mould of some of the country's batting giants.

Labuschagne has been a shining light since coming into the Test team as a concussion sub for Steve Smith during the Ashes.

The 25-year-old is the world's leading Test run-scorer in 2019, and needs 171 more runs in the next two Tests against New Zealand to top 1,000 for the calendar year.

Yet at the beginning of the summer, before his consecutive hundreds against Pakistan from first drop, his position in the order was up for debate.

"There was a conversation at one stage about maybe moving him down the order, sort of starting him at five, but he didn't want a bar of it," Paine said.

"He wanted to go out at three. He wants to be a star Test match international cricketer.

"He sees himself as a No.3. He wants that challenge. He'd be hard to move out of there now, that's for sure.

"We're rapt with the way he's started in that position and looking forward to watching him continue to get better."

Labuschagne averages 53.52 in Test cricket, and that figure rises to 75 when batting at No.3.

The Queenslander plundered scores of 185 and 162 in his two knocks during the 2-0 series win over Pakistan and now looms as a key player in the three-Test series against NZ, which gets underway with a pink-ball clash in Perth on Thursday.

The first four days of the Test are forecast to reach temperatures of around 40 degrees, meaning Labuschagne's leg-spin might also come in handy to help give the other bowlers a rest.

Spinner Nathan Lyon has been impressed by the improvement in Labuschagne's bowling.

"I'm a big fan of Marnus. His cricket has improved out of sight over the last 12 months," Lyon said.

"I'm more than happy to help him out whenever I get the opportunity.

"He's been a massive help with my batting as well, which has been handy."

Domain Test Series v New Zealand

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

New Zealand: Todd Astle, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson (c)

First Test: December 12-16, Perth Stadium day-night (Seven, Fox & Kayo)

Second Test: December 26-30, MCG (Seven, Fox & Kayo)

Third Test: January 3-7, SCG (Seven, Fox & Kayo)