Pat Cummins is facing a race against the clock to be fit for the Ashes opener, and while his absence would be significant, it's far from catastrophic.
Australia's depth in the fast-bowling ranks means that the selectors won't be scrambling for answers - they'll be slotting in a proven performer.
Scott Boland is the obvious candidate to step into Cummins' shoes, boasting an exceptional record on Australian soil.
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The 36-year-old has taken 49 wickets at an average of 12.63, including the iconic 6-7 in the Boxing Day Test last time England were out here.
"Fortunately, Australia’s got a ready-made replacement in the form of Scotty," said Australian Test great Adam Gilchrist.
"In Australian conditions, he gets more bounce and that’s really profitable for him."
Boland struggled in the 2023 Ashes series, where England's batsmen got hold of the Victorian quick and affected his lengths at Edgbaston and Headingley.
"He’s thought a lot about what happened in England," said Gilchrist.
"I’m sure England are already making noises about how they got a hold of him there, but that makes for an intriguing battle."
Stepping in for the team captain is no small feat, but Cummins believes that Boland's form domestically should give the Australian public faith in his abilities ahead of Day One in Perth.
"Scotty’s last three balls, [he’s got] three wickets - he’s coming off a hat-trick," said Cummins.
"One of the things that we’ve done really well is when someone's missed out, someone’s stepped straight in and done a brilliant job."
Australia's current bowling quartet has worked so well, in part, because of how Cummins, Josh Hazelwood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon styles' compliment each other.
So when looking for a Cummins replacement, the selectors will need to be confident that Boland's addition to the XI doesn't upset the rhythm of the other bowlers.
"I think it’s like-for-like," Australian cricket icon Kerry O'Keeffe told Sporting News.
"He’s a bounce bowler and Optus Stadium in Perth is one of the bounciest pitches in Australia.
"If the curator prepares the same kind of deck, I mean, 17-wickets fell on Day One last year against India; Boland will be advantaged by the bounce in this wicket.
"For this particular pitch, Australia doesn’t lose a lot with Boland stepping in."
If Cummins misses the first Test - or more - Australia is in very good hands.