Australia's World Cup hopefuls may be the unfortunate victims if the national side sweeps to another comprehensive series win in this summer's triangular one-day cricket tournament.

Fourteen months out from the World Cup in the Caribbean, some of Australia's next batch of limited overs players might be denied the chance to press their claims if the incumbents have any say on it.

Captain Ricky Ponting has warned that emerging players like opener Phil Jaques, spinner Dan Cullen and fast bowler Mitchell Johnson might not get the international exposure they require before March 2007 to make a serious case for inclusion.

Even Test stars Matthew Hayden, who is desperate to win back his one-day spot, and Shane Warne, still the subject of speculation he will mount a limited overs comeback, face limited opportunities to impress.

Australia's World Cup preparations continue on Friday, when it plays Sri Lanka at Telstra Dome in the tri-series opener.

Before the next World Cup Australia plays one-day matches in South Africa, Bangladesh, India (Champions Trophy), next year's tri-series at home and Chappell-Hadlee matches in New Zealand.

Ponting wants as big a talent pool to choose from over the next year, but said it would be tough for some to get a look in if the current Australian squad performed at its peak.

"The hard thing obviously is giving a lot of those guys some exposure to international cricket," he said.

"You've got a squad of 14 here now and if they do the job right through the summer it's going to be pretty hard to give many other guys much of an opportunity.

"That's just the way the game is and that's sport, you take the opportunity that comes your way."

Australia must name a 30-man preliminary World Cup squad a year from Friday, and reduce that to 15 a month later.

Hayden and Jaques represent two of the thornier selection puzzles over the next year.

Both left-handers are in exquisite form, at Test and domestic level respectively, yet Ponting acknowledged the difficulty of giving them a chance as Adam Gilchrist's one-day opening partner.

Ponting said Jaques' selection poser was one of the most difficult.

"As we've all seen he's been the outstanding domestic one-day player this year, probably for the past two seasons, in Australia," Ponting said.

"But with Gilchrist and (Simon) Katich at the top and even the prospect of (Damien) Martyn and (Michael) Clarke, those guys who have opened before for Australia in one-day internationals, then he's one of the difficult ones.

"But at the same time it would be nice to have a look at him at international level and see what sort of game he's got."

Ponting said Hayden, who pulled out of Queensland's side for Friday's ING Cup match against Western Australia because of illness, was also far from finished in the green and gold.

Warne also falls into the bracket of possible inclusions given his outstanding form, although his captain said any comeback would have to start swiftly.

"Even Shane would agree he can't just put his hand up and say `I want to play in the World Cup', and just turn up at the World Cup for the first game and play there," Ponting said.

"If he is eventually going to declare himself available again, I think we'll all like to see it sooner rather than later."

Australia will rest fast bowlers Stuart Clark and Brett Dorey at Telstra Dome, which will have its roof open for the first time in its 10th one-day international.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Adam Gilchrist, Simon Katich, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, James Hopes, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Glenn McGrath, Brad Hogg (super sub).

Sri Lanka (likely): Marvan Atapattu (capt), Upal Tharanga, Jehan Mubarak, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Farveez Maharoof (super sub).

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