Glenn Maxwell’s World Cup heroics could see him on a plane to the United Kingdom as the National Selection Panel prepares to name its squads for the upcoming tours to the Caribbean and United Kingdom for the Ashes.

Cricket Australia's National Selector Rod Marsh will on Tuesday morning in Melbourne announce squads to cover the two-Test Frank Worrell Trophy series against the West Indies starting in May and the five-Test Ashes series in July and August.

The short turnaround between the adjacent tours – a gap of potentially eight days should the second Test in Kingston go the distance – is expected to see an extended squad named for both series, with history pointing to a group size of 16 players.

Australia travelled with 16 men the last time they visited the West Indies in 2012, and two years ago named the same number for the Ashes before adding two players in Steve Smith and Ashton Agar.

For that reason both squads are expected to be identical bar the return of fast bowler Ryan Harris for the Ashes, who will miss the Frank Worrell Trophy to remain in Australia for the birth of his first child.

Maxwell’s purple patch with the bat bamboozled opposition bowling attacks in the World Cup as the 26-year-old fulfilled his potential in Australia’s triumphant campaign and could be rewarded with one of three allrounder spots in the touring parties.

Quick Single: Maxwell magic is fully rehearsed

The Victorian’s most recent Test was against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, but his return in the Baggy Green was a forgettable one, making 41 runs in the match and failing to take a wicket as Misbah-ul-Haq blasted a 56-ball century, the equal-fastest in Test cricket.

But former Australia fast bowler and Yorkshire head coach Jason Gillespie says despite an erratic start to his career, he expects Maxwell to shine at Test level.

"Maxwell, he's had his up and downs in a short Test career, but what we've seen is when he's been backed in 50-over and T20 cricket, he's been backed to the hilt," Gillespie told cricket.com.au.

"There'll be times when he doesn't come off; that's the nature of how he plays.

"But I think in Test cricket in time we're going to see a pretty special cricketer, in my view."

Maxwell last played at Test in Abu Dhabi last October // Getty Images

Maxwell will likely join veteran allrounder Shane Watson in the squad alongside Western Australian Mitchell Marsh who was forced from the national Test XI due to injury after the second Commonwealth Bank Test against India in Brisbane.

As they did in 2013, the NSP is expected to take five specialist fast bowlers, with Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood all certainties to share the heavy bowling workload, while James Pattinson’s return to first-class cricket has him in a head-to-head battle with fellow Victorian Peter Siddle for the final spot.

Pattinson’s velocity earned him selection over Siddle in Cape Town 13 months ago in what’s turned out be the 24-year-old’s last Test to date, and could prove useful in short bursts on the slow Caribbean wickets.

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While English pitches are more suited to seam bowling, the wickets the Australians will confront in the Caribbean will favour spin, with two bowlers lining up to be Nathan Lyon’s understudy.

With 48 wickets including a career-best 8-89 in the Bupa Sheffield Shield final, Pakistan-born Fawad Ahmed is in the mix to be Lyon’s sidekick, but 21-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner Agar finished the Shield season with 24 wickets in five matches, and adds some lower-order starch to the batting order should he play.

If selected, Agar would be hoping to add to his two-Test career which began in spectacular fashion, scoring 98 batting at No.11 on Test debut against England at Trent Bridge.

Standing behind the stumps will be Brad Haddin, but it’s the second gloveman that is the most interesting selection.

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Both Matthew Wade and Peter Nevill had stellar Shield seasons, but with an average of 76.4 and a top score of 235 not out, the New South Welshman Nevill could get the nod.

The batting order appears to be in good shape led by the recently retired one-day skipper Clarke, who went out on a high by leading his country to their fifth World Cup crown.

Quick Single: Wade takes Hughes with him on journey

Clarke will be joined by David Warner, Chris Rogers and Steve Smith, while WA teammates Shaun Marsh and the Shield player of the year Adam Voges will do battle for the final batting spot, with the left-handed Son of Swampy likely to get the nod.

Cricket Australia will also announce the squad for the Australia A tour of India and the 2015-16 contracted player list.

A minimum of 17 players must be contracted by CA and there aren’t expected to be any surprises in the annual update.

Potential Frank Worrell Trophy/Ashes squad

Michael Clarke (c), Steve Smith (vc), David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris (Ashes only), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon, Ashton Agar