The NSW left-armer was expected to be battling with Pattinson for the remaining spot in the pace battery alongside fellow Blues Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

Pattinson, however, received a one-game ban on Sunday after pleading guilty to a code of conduct breach during Victoria's recent Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland.

That ban makes Starc the frontrunner to bowl against Pakistan from Thursday when the Brisbane Test starts, but Pakistan batsman Shan Masood isn't convinced Queensland paceman Michael Neser is out of the running.

Neser being picked ahead of Starc for his Test debut would be a long shot, but Masood said the tourists had been impressed by the 29-year-old during their game against Australia A in Perth.

"Very decent bowler - will bowl that line and length all day and we likened him a bit to Vernon Philander but with probably a bit more pace," Masood said.

"He's a very skilful bowler but, looking at the whole Australian bowling line-up, he'll have to do a really good job to get into that because they've already got a pretty formidable attack."

Pakistan are weighing up whether to hand a debut of their own to 16-year-old tearaway Naseem Shah after his impressive showing in Perth.

With Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Afridi, Imran Khan and Mohammad Musa also vying for spots, there's no doubt the talent pool in Pakistan's fast bowling is deep.

"I think the preparation in Perth will set us in good stead," Masood said.

"We spent 10 days over there, played against a really good Australian A attack over there. So I think we've done as much as we could to prepare and, hopefully, the experience from 2016, three of our main guys in our batting order, will help us all settle in well."

Australian Associated Press