Veteran pacer Josh Hazlewood is optimistic about returning to Australia’s XI for the Boxing Day Test against South Africa, scheduled to be held at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

A side strain had ruled Hazlewood out of the pink-ball Test against West Indies in Adelaide and the first Test versus South Africa at the Gabba.

"Everything is ticking along nicely and going according to plan," Hazlewood told Channel Seven.

"If I'm ticking the box on the 24th and bowling two spells of four or five overs with a break in between, that's the final tick we're looking for, then I'll be available for selection hopefully.

"I'll build it up over the next week and a half and tick that last box on the 24th hopefully. I'm not noticing the side at all, so fingers crossed."

Hazlewood revealed that he bowled with "90% intensity" in the Brisbane nets and cited that playing all three formats could be a possible reason for the recurring injuries.

"It's been a bit of a frustrating period," he said. "Especially red ball. White ball has been going great. Maybe that's the cost of playing all three formats and putting all your energy into every game you play.

"You don't have that time to build your strength up or workloads up and get ready for a Test match. I might have to look at that and find a way around it somehow."

The first Test between Australia and South Africa in Brisbane ended in a couple of days, with the hosts registering a six-wicket victory to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The second Test is due to get underway on December 26.