Peter Nevill is set to be a shock omission from Australia's team for the first Ashes Test at the Gabba, with Matt Renshaw also expected to be dropped to accommodate the in-form Cameron Bancroft.

Steve Smith's squad for the first and second Ashes Tests against England will be announced in Brisbane on Friday morning after weeks of intrigue about its potential make-up.

According to sources there will be no shortage of surprises when selection chairman Trevor Hohns sits down and reads out the line-up, with Tasmania's Tim Paine on Thursday tipped to be a bombshell pick as wicketkeeper and Shaun Marsh favoured to win the No.6 job.

Nevill had been strongly forecast to return to the side a year after he was dropped for Matthew Wade in the wake of Australia's disastrous defeat to South Africa in Hobart.