Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
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