Pakistan, who have never lost in 32 Tests here, must win to prevent Australia - who are 1-0 up - achieving their first series win in the country in 39 years.

Saqlain Mushtaq, who has returned from the bedside of his sick father in England, and left-arm spinner Shakeel Ahmed, who would make his Test debut at 31, are almost certain to play but Mushtaq Ahmed is out with a knee injury.

The home selectors are also considering bringing in off-spinner Arshad Khan or using the left-arm turn of teenage batsman Shahid Afridi, who would also replace Inzamam-ul-Haq up the order if his foot injury rules him out.

They are also able to call on Wasim Akram, who returns after missing the second Test because of a virus.

Australia, too, are looking at a trio of slow bowlers. After a final look at the pitch they will decide whether to bring in off-spinner Gavin Robertson to support Stuart MacGill and Colin Miller.

If Robertson is chosen he will replace Damien Fleming, leaving the visitors with only one genuine quick bowler in Glenn McGrath.

Darren Lehmann, who scored 98 in the first Test but missed the second game with a groin injury, is preferred to Ricky Ponting, captain Mark Taylor reasoning that Lehmann is the better player of spin.

Australia (from): *Taylor, Slater, Langer, M Waugh, S Waugh, Lehmann, -Healy, Miller, MacGill, McGrath, Robertson or Fleming.

Pakistan (from): *Sohail, Anwar, Ijaz, Inzamam or Afridi, Malik, -Moin, Wasim, Yousaf, Azhar, Shoaib, Shakeel, Aaqib, Arshad.