Australia and Pakistan have both delayed naming their teams for the first Test starting in Perth on Thursday as they consider adding extra pacemen to their bowling stocks in anticipation of a speed war.

With the WACA pitch notorious for providing extra bounce and speed for the fast bowlers, both teams are waiting until just before the start of play before finalising their lineups.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said he is considering playing four quicks and a spinner. Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq is contemplating using three specialist quicks, an all-round seamer and a slow bowler.

Australia have used the pace trio of Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz and leg-spinner Shane Warne to great effect recently but may add Brett Lee to their lineup.

Lee is a genuine express bowler and has made a big impression on his team mates since his return from injury in last week's one-day series with New Zealand.

He was 12th man in Australia's Test series wins over India and the Kiwis but Ponting hinted he may get a recall at the expense of a batsman.

"He's right in the mix to play in this game, there's no doubt about that," Ponting was quoted saying in Perth by Australian Associated Press.

"The extra pace and bounce in this wicket and what we've seen from him in the couple of one-day games indicate that he's very, very close to being back to his absolute best."

MANY OPTIONS

Pakistan, beaten by 10 wickets by Western Australia in last week's warm-up, also have plenty of bowling options.

Shoaib Akhtar, the world's fastest bowler, will open the attack with Mohammad Sami and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq is sure to play.

With Danish Kaneria likely to fill the spinner's role, either paceman Naved-ul-Hasan or left-arm seamer Mohammad Khalil could be included.

Shoaib, who has indulged in some verbal taunting of the Australians in the lead-up to the series opener, said he hoped his team bowled first so he could get first use of the pitch.

"Looks like a good green carpet," Shoaib told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.

"If we don't waste the new ball, just make them play, I think we're going to get a breakthrough as early as possible."

Despite the threat of a pace war, the two teams agree on at least one contentious issue.

Inzamam said while he had not formally spoken to Ponting, he supported the Australian's view that batsmen should take the word of fieldsmen on low catches rather than refer the matter to the third umpire.

"So far there's no agreement between me and Ricky Ponting but I agree on this because we need fair play here," Inzamam told reporters.