Unless something unexpected happens in the next couple of days, Australia head coach Justin Langer said, the home team will be unchanged for the all-important second Test against India starting Boxing Day (December 26) in Melbourne. 

Australia had pulled off a remarkable fightback and victory by eight wickets in the first Test in Adelaide last week to go 1-0 up in the four-match series played for the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 

Read Also: Darren Lehmann says India could stage a comeback if "batsmen cope with the bounce"

The coach said it would be "pretty courageous" to make changes to a side which performed so brilliantly. 

"I'd be a pretty courageous man to change the XI for this Test match after the last one," Langer said during a virtual media conference, as quoted by PTI. 

"At this stage, unless something happens over the next few days – and things can happen in the world we live in – we'll go in with the same XI, I'd say."

The hosts, of course, won't still be at their full-strength, considering the forced absence of experienced opening batsman David Warner. 

Warner couldn't take part in the Test series opener and is also confirmed to miss the next game as he is yet to fully recover from a groin strain he picked up at the start of the summer. 

With him sidelined and back-up opener Will Pucovski also battling a concussion scare, Australia opted to promote Matthew Wade to the top of the order and bat alongside Joe Burns, a temporary stand which is set to continue at the MCG too. 

Langer, meanwhile, feels pleased with the level of competition in the squad for each spot. 

"That's all part of the journey of every individual player, you're literally under the pump every time you play for Australia. Every player is, that's how it should be ... it's so healthy for Australian cricket," he said. 

"It's tough when you're in the top 6 batters because you've always got people knocking hard on the door to take your spot. So you got to be on the toes all the time."