Australia's selectors want to take Brad Haddin to the Ashes, despite resting him from the first three ODIs against India and Sri Lanka.
The 34-year-old Test wicketkeeper has been challenged to raise his game after an indifferent series with the bat against India, where he averaged 28.66.
His Tasmanian rival Matthew Wade, who averages 40.16 in first class cricket, is expected to earn a Test call-up for the tour of the West Indies in April after the national selector John Inverarity expressed his desire to have two wicketkeepers in the squad.
Strong performances from Wade in the upcoming one-day series could build pressure on Haddin who has had a difficult few months with the bat and behind the stumps.
Mickey Arthur, the national coach and also a selector, said the panel wanted to be able to keep Haddin on until the tour of England in 2013, but needed to see more runs from him to turn the possibility into reality.
"Behind the stumps, the leadership he gives us is insurmountable and you can't put a price on that," Arthur told ESPNcricinfo.
"I'm comfortable with where Brad's at, yes we'd like more runs from him, but I'm really comfortable that Brad is on the right track. Yes we've got to get performance and nobody is guaranteed their position, but I'm very comfortable that Brad Haddin could potentially go forward to the Ashes series."