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Australia will bat first in the second Test against South Africa at Bellerive Oval in Hobart after Proteas captain Faf du Plesiss sent the hosts in on Saturday.
He noted there was “quite a bit” of moisture in the green-tinged pitch plus overcast skies.
National selectors have lost patience with Mitch Marsh, dropping him in favour of debutant Callum Ferguson.
It’s one of three changes to the XI that was beaten by 177 runs in Perth, with Peter Siddle (back) and Shaun Marsh (broken finger) also makng way for Joe Mennie and Joe Burns.
Australia skipper Steve Smith admitted he was also keen to bowl first.
“There might be a little bit in this first session. Guys are going to have to play well,” Smith said.
South Africa opted against naming a four-prong pace attack, calling on Kyle Abbott to replace injured spearhead Dale Steyn.
“It was a very tough decision,” du Plessis said.
Ferguson and fellow debuatant Mennie were presented with their baggy greens by Greg Blewett and Ben Hilfenhaus respectively.
Australia haven’t blooded two debutants in a Test since 2014, when Mitch Marsh and Steve O’Keefe started their careers with a 221-run loss to Pakistan in Dubai.
Heavy rain is expected to interrupt days one and two of the contest.
Both sides warmed up in light drizzle but the covers were peeled off the green-tinged pitch and the toss went ahead as scheduled at 10am AEDT.
Australia XI: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Adam Voges, Callum Ferguson, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Starc, Joe Mennie, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon
South Africa XI: Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis (capt), JP Duminy, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kyle, Abbott, Kagiso Rabada.
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