Australia have elected to go with a three-pronged pace attack with Nathan Lyon to provide spin, meaning Scott Boland has missed out on a spot in the XI to face Bangladesh in Darwin, starting Thursday.

A line ball decision was made between Boland and Josh Hazlewood for the third pace spot, behind Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, the skipper said on Wednesday, while convinced of including a fulltime spin option in the side.

A stacked Test schedule over the next 12 months is all but certain to include Boland.

He played all five Tests across last summer's Ashes and still boasts a bowling average of shy of 19 runs for each of his 82 wickets.

"They're both (Boland and Hazlewood) pretty class, aren't they?" Cummins said.

"We were pretty certain we wanted 'Lyono' in the side.

"It's always a pretty tight call. It's one of those ones where there's not much you can say to Scotty other than obviously there's a lot of cricket coming up.

"But he knows his worth and how good he is. I'm sure he'll be out there at some point pretty soon."

It's an unlucky missed opportunity for Boland.

The Gulidjan quick took 20 wickets against England in a series missing Cummins for all but one Test.

Boland's non-selection maintains his perennial position behind a fully fit Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood.

Australia last played a Test in the Top End over two decades ago.

The unusual winter-time series moves to Mackay for the second Test.

It's the first time Great Barrier Reef Arena, which is now home to the National Indigenous Cricket Championships, will host a Test following ODIs 12 months ago, and women's international fixtures in recent years.

Australian XI to face Bangladesh at Marrara Oval

Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Beau Webster, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.