Brisbane: Pacer Pat Cummins confirmed his return to Australia's XI for the first NRMA Insurance Test against South Africa at the Gabba where a pitch sporting a considerable tinge of green has both side's pacemen licking their lips.

As confirmed earlier this week, Cummins' recovery from a quad injury will see him replace Michael Neser as the only change to the side that wrapped a 2-0 series sweep over West Indies in Adelaide last week.

It means Scott Boland holds his place in a bowling attack featuring Cummins, Mitchell Starc, allrounder Cameron Green and spinner Nathan Lyon.

Men's NRMA Insurance Test Series v South Africa

Dec 17-21: First Test, Gabba, 11.20am AEDT

Dec 26-30: Second Test, MCG, 10.30am AEDT

Jan 4-8: Third Test, SCG, 10.30am AEDT

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Lance Morris, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner

South Africa squad: Dean Elgar (c), Temba Bavuma, Gerald Coetzee, Theunis de Bruyn, Sarel Eree, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Heinrich Klaasen, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams, Khaya Zondo