Warne tested positive for a banned diuretic in January

The leg-spinner, who failed a drugs test at the beginning of the year, could play against Sri Lanka in a three-Test series in March.

Warne's ban ends on 10 February and although he will not be available for the one-day series, he could be back for the first Test in Galle on 8 March.

The Test squad is set to be named on 1 March.

There's a period of time before we pick the Test match side to go to Sri Lanka where Shane will have the chance to play a couple of games for Victoria Trevor Hohns

This gives Warne time to play in a Sheffield Shield game for Victoria to get him back in the groove, having been banned from playing all forms of cricket for a year.

Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said they faced a difficult decision.

Hohns said: "Everyone expects Shane to come back and bowl well and I would have thought you wouldn't just lose that ability in 12 months.

"As far as regaining his position in the Australia side ... there's a period of time there before we pick the Test match side to go to Sri Lanka where Shane will have the chance to play a couple of games for Victoria.

"Then we have to make the assessment whether he's bowling well enough to be included in that squad and of course we've also got Stuart MacGill, who is performing very, very well for Australia. It's a very difficult thing."

Warne missed Australia's triumph in this year's World Cup when he tested positive for a banned diuretic.

Hohns said he spoke to Warne on a regular basis and the second all-time leading Test wicket-taker with 491 understood the situation.

"He wants to play as soon as he possibly can but he understands he has to get a little more cricket under his belt as well," Hohns added.