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MITCHELL Marsh is poised to be offered the Australian Test vice-captaincy today, Gold Coast’s Michael Neser is a smokie for the squad and Aaron Finch has firmed for a shock call-up.

Australia’s 15-man squad to take on Pakistan in the UAE next month will be unveiled this afternoon after selectors and board members hook up over the phone to finalise the new-look party which will take the nation forward following the sandpaper scandal.

Marsh was always a certain selection but his unbeaten hundred for Australia A in India, along with the overs he bowled in his comeback from injury, look to have secured his ascension to official leadership duties as Tim Paine’s deputy.

Players were yet to be notified last night but it was understood Finch was looming as a likely pick as selectors look to give Australia’s decimated top order an injection. Tim Paine (c), Mitchell Marsh (vc), Matthew Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Finch, Joe Burns, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Agar, Peter Siddle/Michael Neser, Marnus Labuschagne/Travis Head.

Finch has been in stunning white-ball form this year and at age 31 he could be in the frame for a Test debut. Just months after making his oneday international debut, Dolphins player Neser has been touted as a contender for the Test squad on the back of his Sheffield Shield form.

The Test vice-captaincy has been somewhat of a poisoned chalice over recent years.

Michael Clarke said in his autobiography that he was a poor No.2 to Ricky Ponting, before Shane Watson failed to gel with Clarke when he took over the top job.