Jacques gets the chance for the Gabba !!!

Matthew Hayden has given new partner Phil Jacques a huge vote of confidence by declaring his game a match for any opener in world cricket.

Jacques will make his first Test appearance since April 2006 after his stellar run-scoring form in the early stages of the Pura Cup saw off the challenge of Western Australian Chris Rogers.

Hayden said he was glad the perpetual speculation over Justin Langer's replacement at the head of the order was finally over and was looking forward to forging a brand new partnership with the NSW opener.

"I'm not worried about Phil's game at all. It's as complete as you're going to get for any opening batsman," Hayden said in Brisbane on Monday.

"I've got zero concerns about it. I'm exceptionally confident in his ability."

Hayden described Jacques as a seasoned cricketer with a wealth of domestic experience and said he would happily encourage the naturally attacking stroke-maker to play his own game.

"He's a very steady character and he brings such an enormous wealth of talent to this pool," he said.

"It's not like he's played three games for New South Wales. He's no rookie and that's a great thing for this side."

However, Hayden cautioned that Australian fans shouldn't expect their opening partnership to gel overnight.

"Justin and I, we'd played since 1990 together. It's 17 years of replacing knowing each other very intimately, either playing against each other or with each other," he said.

"You can't just replace that but I'm looking forward - over however long we've got together - to develop that relationship."

Despite their fledgling partnership and the prospect of facing a vastly improved Sri Lankan pace attack after a lean period of Test match cricket, Hayden insisted he would still prefer batting first to lay the platform for a large first innings total.

He added that although in Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga Sri Lanka had the foundation for a very good fast bowling attack, the Gabba remained his favourite wicket around the world.

The 36-year-old left-hander's hometown ground is recognised as one of the bounciest tracks in the country and, in Hayden's opinion, possesses every aspect of a challenging Test match pitch.

"It's such a good wicket but there's a lot of hard work to be done as an opening batsman there," he said.

"The ball does move and it does bounce so there's that element of surprise in the track."

"But then it does become a very good batting wicket and I'm looking forward to it if I get to that stage."