The unusual sight of a green pitch in the baking Abu Dhabi heat has kept Australia guessing for the second Test against Pakistan, creating the shock possibility of a third quick being deployed for the series decider.

Skipper Tim Paine has also hinted at a tweak in Australia's batting order after Shaun and Mitch Marsh had both fallen cheaply during the drawn first Test in Dubai.

Uncertainty remained within the Australian camp about what to make of the grass-covered deck at Sheikh Zayed Stadium as they put in their final preparations for the second Test starting on Tuesday.

Australia will hold an optional light training run on Monday and there is every chance the wicket by then will have been trimmed back from the green monster which had confronted the tourists at Sunday's main session.

The pitches typically produced in Abu Dhabi are known for being even flatter than in Dubai. The last time the two sides played a Test at the venue in 2014, Pakistan set Australia a target of 603 on the way to a crushing victory.

"The wicket actually looks a bit different to what we were expecting," Paine told reporters on Sunday.

"I'm sure the sun will work on it today at some stage and we'll have a look tomorrow and go from there.

"Looking at it now, you would think if that was in Australia, you would be playing three fast bowlers. But with the heat around the next 24 hours, I'm sure it'll change pretty quickly."

Paine said he expected reverse swing to play a lesser role in Abu Dhabi after Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas wreaked havoc on a docile deck in Dubai.

Uncapped Queenslanders Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett trained strongly on Sunday and would be vying to partner Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle.

"They've both been really impressive ... but they both play very different roles," Paine said.

"Brendan is here as a replacement for Starcy if anything was to happen and Nes for Siddle, so they both play that sort of role. Again, we'll just have to wait and see what the wicket looks like tomorrow."

Paine confirmed Australia's top six would be unchanged but would not rule out tweaking the order.

Shaun and Mitch Marsh batted at No.3 and No.4 respectively in Dubai, both making second-innings ducks and combining for just 19 runs overall.

Travis Head would be a strong chance to leapfrog Mitch Marsh in the order after scoring a superb second-innings 72 on debut.

Australia have not won a Test series in Asia since 2011 but Paine says his players will back themselves in after the valiant fightback in Dubai.

"You can have the greatest plans in the world but, until you get out in the middle in a Test match under that sort of pressure, you never know," he said.

"For guys to actually go out and do it ... we'll clearly as a team take a fair bit of momentum out of it.

"But we spoke again this morning about the need to turn up here in the next couple of days and start getting our mind around the fact it's going to be a real battle again for five days and that's how cricket is played over here."