'It was a tough call': Smith

Steve Smith says Chris Lynn will have a licence to thrill when he makes his one-day international debut against Pakistan at the Gabba tomorrow.

Smith today confirmed Queensland duo Lynn and Billy Stanlake will make their ODI debuts at their home ground in the opening match of the VB ODI series, the pair to become Australia's 217th and 218th ODI representatives respectively.

Lynn has played five T20s for Australia but will taste international 50-over cricket for the first time while fast bowler Stanlake will debut despite having played just four 50-over matches for his state.

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Travis Head will open the batting alongside David Warner in the absence of dumped opener Aaron Finch, with Lynn to bat at number four.

Allrounder Glenn Maxwell also returns for the first time in 13 matches, but legspinner Adam Zampa has been left out of the side with the Aussies opting for a pace-heavy bowling attack of Stanlake, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins as well as medium-pace allrounders James Faulkner and Mitchell Marsh.

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Lynn has been managing the pain resulting from a bulging disc in his neck, but Smith said the debutant will be fit to play after having an injection earlier this week.

And he expects the right-hander to play with the same freedom he's shown for the Brisbane Heat in the KFC Big Bash League this summer.

"He's got a licence to play the way he wants to play," Smith said.

"But 50 overs is a long time so you've also got be a bit smarter with the way you play, but he's got some freedom to go out and play nice and positively.

"He's been a bit stiff and sore in the last couple of days but he's confident he'll be able to play and do well.

"He's been in red hot form and hopefully he can bring that to the international stage.

"I've watched him in the nets in the last couple of days and he's hit the ball hard and well so hopefully he can do the same for us."

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The elevation of Head to the top of the order has come at the expense of Usman Khawaja, who has returned to the ODI squad but won't play tomorrow.

It also means Zampa, the leading ODI wicket-taker in the world in 2016, misses out again with Head and Maxwell to carry the spin-bowling workload.

"It was a tough call," Smith said of leaving Khawaja out of the side.

"I think looking around the squad, Maxwell was in the last group and it was good to get him into the line-up.

"And Travis Head played very well in the last series and we've seen him play very well at the top of the order in the Matador Cup so it's given him an opportunity at the top and we've got plenty of power down the order.

"It's a good opportunity for Travis, but unlucky for Usman."

Stanlake, 22, has battled several serious injuries over the years and has been restricted to just 13 matches in all formats at domestic level.

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Smith said he's been keeping a close eye on the towering paceman playing for the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL and is looking forward to him partnering fellow quicks Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.

"I think he's going to be the tallest player to play for Australia so it's great having those kind of guys in the team," he said.

"He bowls with good pace and it looks like he bowls with good control as well so it's a good opportunity for him tomorrow.

"He should get bounce, he's releases the ball from high enough. He's an exciting prospect."

Australia XI: David Warner, Travis Head, Steve Smith (c), Chris Lynn, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade, James Faulkner, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Billy Stanlake