Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar expects Indian pacers to rattle Australian opener Will Pucovski with short ball barrage in the upcoming Test series, starting December 17 at the Adelaide Oval.

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With David Warner ruled of the first Test due to an adductor muscle injury, Pucovski was tipped to replace him and open with Joe Burns.

But his participation is currently under threat as the 22-year-old coped a nasty blow on his helmet while tackling Kartik Tyagi’s well-directed bouncer during the first warm-up game.

According to Gavaskar, if Pucovski takes the field, he should be ready to face short-pitched deliveries, despite having a history of concussions.

"Definitely. I think you would expect that to happen," Gavaskar told the Sydney Daily Telegraph on Friday (December 11).

"Once you enter the ground whether it's playing for your country, or even playing for your state or club, you're going to cop it."

"If the word is that you're not really comfortable against a particular delivery, you're going to get a lot of it. I don't see India easing up because he's had a history of concussion," he added.

Gavaskar believes Australians would do the same if an Indian batter had a similar weakness, and referred to Mohammad Shami as the best exponent of short-ball in the visiting camp.

"He's got as good a bouncer as any I've seen," said Gavaskar.

Despite what could be a fiery reception, Australian pace spearhead Pat Cummins insisted Pucovski would be up for the task.

"For someone like Will, he has been hearing that for a couple of years and scoring two double centuries, back-to-back (in the Sheffield Shield) he can handle that pretty well," he said from Adelaide.

"Of course (short bowling) is a weapon we like to use, here in Australia there are slightly bouncier wickets and we try to push the batter back.

"But I can't see it being too much of a headline-grabber this summer."

(With AFP inputs)