Jackson Bird has gone from being completely out of Australia's Test picture to becoming a key part of the team's quest to regain the world No.1 ranking in New Zealand.
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The beneficiary of Australia's fast bowling crisis, Bird will don the baggy green for the first time since the 2013 Ashes series after James Pattinson was ruled out of the first Test.
A fully fit Pattinson would be a huge asset for Steve Smith but selectors do not want to risk him breaking down during the match. Should Australia win in Wellington, the Victorian may not play at all in this series.
Although Bird has proven himself a capable performer in his only three Tests, he has come from a long way back in the pecking order.
The Tasmanian-based paceman will be the sixth quick used by selectors at Test level this summer, but has had to wait his turn.
Uncapped trio Nathan Coulter-Nile, Scott Boland and Andrew Fekete, along with James Faulkner and Pat Cummins, have all been named in squads before Bird since the Ashes.
Had he not been picked now it's hard to see where he would fit in once the likes of Mitchell Starc, Cummins and Pattinson are fully fit.
Bird's Test future appeared gloomy after missing selection for the first Test against the West Indies but he now has the chance to play consecutive games.
"That's why you're a first-class cricketer, you've got to roll with the punches," Australia's fast bowling coach Craig McDermott said.
"If you get dropped or miss out on something you've got to put your head down and keep going. That's part and parcel of being a professional athlete, I think."
Bird has been a consistent performer in the Sheffield Shield this summer, taking 25 wickets at 24. Bird is not quick but the seam-friendly conditions in New Zealand should suit his style.
"I saw him bowl yesterday and i think he's bowling with quite good pace, hitting a good area and swinging the ball and swinging it late which is a great attribute to have," Smith said.
"If he gets the ball in the right areas in this Test match I think he can do a bit of damage."
Pattinson is short of match practice after missing a month with shin problems. He bowled 21.3 overs in the shield last week before being pulled out to fly to New Zealand.
With no game between now and the second Test, Pattinson will have only the nets to build his workload.
"I think it's nice to just have that little bit of extra time," Smith said.
"He can get a few bowls in in the nets over the next couple of days and the selectors are confident that he'll be fit and available for the second Test match."
