A run feast against England kick-started his breakthrough summer last year and Ryan Carters is hoping a big score for the Cricket Australia XI against India will do likewise.
Opening bat Carters is New South Wales' reigning Sheffield Shield player of the year after crunching 861 runs at 53.81 - including three centuries - after moving north from Victoria.
However he has started this summer slowly with just one half century in six innings for the Blues, and has made a handful of starts before getting out.
The two-day clash against India at Adelaide's Glenelg Oval starting on Monday is a golden chance for the right-hand batsman to rediscover the form that has him rated a potential star of the future.
Last year Carters made 93 and 40 against the touring England side and said it gave him a huge injection of belief before conquering the state scene.
"I played against England last year in a similar match and made a few. It was a good confidence boost early on and probably helped me get in a good zone," he said.
"I definitely felt like I was in a good head space after that match.
"This match with India is a great opportunity to play against top class international competition and give them a real shake, but also to try and put in some good individual performances."
The make-up of Australia's top order is unsettled, with evergreen Chris Rogers' opening position with the established David Warner under scrutiny.
An opportunity exists for opening batsman if they can score big runs in coming years, but Carters isn't getting ahead of himself.
"I'm not looking too far ahead, I'm just looking to play well every time I take to the crease," Carters said.
"It's a little bit frustrating [this summer] to get a few starts and not go on with it, but it's also part of cricket.
"You have to accept that sometimes, and keep working away."
