The sharp focus on the early rounds of the JLT Sheffield Shield will only intensify next week when Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb battle it out for what is seemingly a single vacancy remaining in Australia's Test XI to take on India

But national coach Justin Langer says the importance of the upcoming Shield round won't extend to him sending a directive to Victoria for incumbent Test opener Aaron Finch to bat at the top of the order for their pivotal match against Queensland in Brisbane.

Australia's 14-man Test squad that was announced on Thursday left two major questions unanswered; the identity of the opening partnership, and which of the seven batsmen picked (including allrounder Mitchell Marsh) will be left out for the first Domain Test against India in Adelaide.

Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and Aaron Finch are seemingly certain selections in the top six along with the younger Marsh brother, whose medium pace will give Australia's star quicks welcome relief during an intense period that will include four Tests in five weeks.

And with Langer declaring Test rookie Travis Head "100 per cent" certain to play in Adelaide, it will seemingly come down to Victorian teammates Harris and Handscomb for the final spot in the XI.

Who wins that battle will also have a major impact on the rest of the top six; Handscomb would likely slip into the middle order should he get the nod, leaving Finch and Khawaja to open the batting. But a Test debut for Harris would surely see him bat at the top and push one of Finch and Khawaja down the order.

The make-up of India's spin attack will also weigh on Langer's mind; Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav both spin their stock ball away from the left-hander, which could work in favour of the right-handed Handscomb, while the inclusion left-arm tweaker Ravindra Jadeja could be to the advantage of the left-handed Harris.

It means all eyes will be on the Gabba from next Tuesday when Harris, Handscomb and Finch play for Victoria against a Queensland side featuring Khawaja and dumped pair Matthew Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne.

"We just have to work out whether we have another right-hander in the middle order or Marcus Harris open," Langer said. "That's what it'll come down to.

"We want to keep paying respect to the Sheffield Shield competition.

"It's important to keep giving people opportunity to put their names up to play Test cricket for Australia.

"We also respect that India have got some good spin bowlers and we have (four) left-handers in that seven, potentially.

"All of those things we're going to play around with."

Langer dismissed the suggestion that Finch wasn't suited to an opening role in Australian conditions, echoing the view of skipper Tim Paine, who told cricket.com.au earlier this month that Finch deserved to stay at the top of the order following a solid Test debut as an opener alongside Khawaja in the UAE.

But whether or not Finch will have a red-ball hit-out as an opener before the first Test remains to be seen; Vics coach Andrew McDonald indicated on Wednesday that Finch would resume his spot in Victoria's middle order for the clash against the Bulls, leaving Harris and Travis Dean at the top.

Langer said where in the order Finch bats at Shield level is entirely up to the Vics.

"I've always said it's none of my business what the states do, so there'll be no directive from us," he said.

"That'll be up to (Finch) and Andrew McDonald to work out what's best for Victoria to win their next Shield game.

"I really like the synergy of Finch and Khawaja in the UAE. There's a bit of odd couple about them and often really good partnerships are like that. Uzzie's very chilled out, Finchy's a bit more combative, they seemed to have a nice feel about it.

"There's a lot of talk that Finch can't open in Australia, but I'm not sure about that. He's opened in white-ball cricket (and) he did a really good job in the UAE. The conditions might be a little bit different, but it's not like we're playing at the Gabba or the WACA.

"That's one of the things we're mulling over at the moment, the perfect combination."