SYDNEY. Dec 31: There will be a battle within a battle in Tuesdays fifth Test as » Stuart MacGill tries to cement his Test position before the impending return of legspinning rival Shane Warne, reports AFP MacGill has to perform against the West Indies m the fifth Sydney Test to prove his credentials when the Australian touring team heads to the turning wickets of India on February 13.

Selectors haven't yet decided whether to take two or three spinners to India but offspinner Colin Miller appears the only certain selection at this stage following his outstanding summer, culminating with his 10 wickets in the third Adelaide Test

That could leave MacGill and Warne in a race for selection. with Warne set to return to stale cricket with Victoria on Tuesday after recovering from a broken finger which kept him one of the current Test senes against the West Indies

From next week. Australian players will not have any first-class cricket available to them before the touring squad is selected for India.

They will have to push their claims in one-day matches, with Warne hoping to squeeze back into the Australian squad for the triangular series against the West Indies and Zimbabwe

But MacGill could have the golden chance to perform in the Sydney Test against the tourists who have yet to prove they can handle Australia's spinners. 'mj*. J

MacGill was relegated to 12th man in the fourth Test but he shapes as a likely starter in Sydney at the expense of paceman Andrew Bichel if the SCG wicket lives up to its early promise to assist spinners

MacGill took 12-107 In his last Test appearance in Sydney against England two years ago and another hefty haul would certainly help his cause to push ahead of Warne for India and the prized 2001 Ashes tour to England.

But national chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said It was too early to speculate on the tours until Warne - Australia's greatest Test wicket-taker -returned from injury.

"That's all in the future because Shane has to get some cricket under his belt." Hohns said Sunday.

"We're obviously going to take more than 12 (players) to India for the Tests and it's fair to say there 'will be a couple of spots up for grabs.

"We've got a fair idea of the type of player required for India and the type of player who can perform there."

MacGill and Warne both made the last Indian tour along With offspinner Gavin Robertson. who played in all three Tests.

Selectors will have plenty to consider this summer with Indian captain Sourav Ganguly

already declaring the Test wickets will take plenty of spin when the Indians try to end Australia's remarkable winning streak, now at 14 Tests.

The world-record streak should extend to 15 when Australia administers the last rites in the Sydney Test to the hapless West indies after thrashing them by 352 runs in Melbourne.