REDBACKS allrounder Daniel Christian is set to make a sensational rise to the Test side in Hobart this week.
South Australia's in-form Mr Fixit is Australia's cover for Queensland quick Ben Cutting, who was sidelined for up to two months yesterday with a side strain during the Bulls' Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria.
Christian, 28, was not part of the South Australian side that left Adelaide Airport yesterday for the Sheffield Shield match with Western Australia at the WACA, starting tomorrow.
It is understood Christian - who is known to be favoured by former SACA director of high performance and new Australian selector Rod Marsh - was alerted to his Test elevation on the way to the airport yesterday.
Instead, he is now booked on a flight to Hobart on Tuesday where he will join the Australian side - and is likely to become the 427th player to wear the baggy green cap.
Christian's rise from grade cricketer four years ago to Test hopeful this week comes on the strength of a superb 2011/12 season.
He has scored 475 runs at 59.4 since jumping to the No. 6 batting position for the Redbacks this summer, and taken 10 wickets at 49.7 with his lively medium-fast attack.
His tally includes two centuries and a 96 for South Australia so far.
Christian has played three Twenty20 Internationals for Australia but batted only once.
In Brisbane yesterday, New Zealand went to stumps at 1/10, trailing Australia by 122 runs.
