It will be the pair's first on-field meeting on this tour.

Muralitharan -- the fourth-highest wicket-taker in one-day international history -- has not toured Australia since 1998-99, when he was also no-balled by local umpires for throwing.

Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya said Muralitharan, who has taken 299 wickets in one-dayers, was more concerned about returning to form and fitness after a hernia operation with the World Cup starting in southern Africa next month.

Muralitharan missed Sri Lanka's first three matches of the series, all losses, and returned in a winning side against Australia in Sydney on January 9.

"No problem, it (umpire Hair's appointment) is no problem," said Jayasuriya on Sunday.

"He's just started and needs more time bowling in the nets and in matches," Jayasuriya said.

He bowled pretty well the other night (2-44) and he will get more and more useful in time.

"When he comes in it gives a lot of confidence to the boys, he means as much to us as Shane Warne does to Australia.

"We don't bother about whatever the crowd says because we know he has proved himself as the number one bowler in the world," Jayasuriya said.

Muralitharan is rated by Wisden as the best bowler in Test history. The 30-year-old has taken 437 wickets in 78 Tests, the third-highest all-time tally, but his bent-arm action has provoked strong reaction.

Called for throwing by umpire Ross Emerson in a one-day match in Adelaide against England in 1998-99 and by Hair three years earlier, Muralitharan has been labelled a "javelin thrower" by former India left-arm spinner Bishen Bedi.

Australian umpires Tony McQuillan and Emerson also called the off spinner for throwing during a one-day match against West Indies in Brisbane in 1995-96.