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Teenage opener Sam Konstas will become one of Australia's youngest Test cricketers after being declared to make his debut at the MCG on Boxing Day.

Sam Konstas will make his Test debut on Boxing Day, with Australia coach Andrew McDonald declaring the teenager a certain starter.

After being called into the squad in place of axed opener Nathan McSweeney, the 19-year-old will become one of Australia's youngest Test cricketers.

The last time Konstas played at the MCG, he made three and 73 not out for Australia A last month against India A.

Konstas blasted 107 from 97 balls against India in Canberra three weeks ago, keeping him in the Test frame even though McSweeney initially started the series as Usman Khawaja's opening partner.

But Travis Head failed to train fully as Australia sweat on the fitness of their most important player just two days out from the the start of the fourth Test.

McDonald said he was "confident" Head would play but still needed to overcome a small calf strain.

After not training a day earlier due to a tight quad from the Brisbane Test, the star left-hander had a short stint in the MCG nets on Tuesday when he received throw downs for about 20 minutes.

Head had a long conversation with McDonald and team physio Nick Jones before going back into the rooms.

Other batters Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne all had extended periods in the nets facing the likes of Mitchell Starc at full pace.

Earlier, Head had a short stint of catching practice out on the MCG, but didn't do any meaningful running.

The 30-year-old has been in rare form, smashing centuries in Adelaide and Brisbane to certify himself as India's most in-demand wicket.

Head has made 409 runs at an average of 81.80 across the first three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series, dominating India even as the rest of Australia's batters have faced significant issues against Jasprit Bumrah.