Michael Clarke inspects the Adelaide Oval pitch before the first Test against India. Photo: Getty Images

Michael Clarke will lead Australia in one of the most emotion-charged matches played in this country after selectors placed their faith in the captain's call over his troublesome hamstring.

After delivering moving tributes to his "little brother" Phillip Hughes following the batsman's death, Clarke now has the opportunity to "dig in and get through to tea" for his fallen mate. Hughes will be Australia's "13th man" in Adelaide.

Brains trust: Selector Rod Marsh, captain Michael Clarke and coach Darren Lehmann talk tactics at Adelaide Oval on Monday. Photo: Getty Images

Clarke had been at loggerheads last month with the Australian hierarchy over his path back but the landscape has changed after the recent extraordinary events. Selectors had wanted to see the 33-year-old prove his fitness in a warm-up game but no longer deem that necessary.

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He has put his hamstring through everything asked of him by Cricket Australia's medical staff though there will be nervous moments every time he breaks into a sprint.

A soft-tissue injury now seems trivial in light of the past fortnight but another recurrence for Clarke would jeopardise his involvement for the rest of the series and possibly his preparation for the World Cup. Clarke has hurt his hamstring three times since late August, and seven times in his career, limiting him to just four matches in the past 100 days.

Taking it slowly: Michael Clarke on one of his laps of Adelaide Oval. Photo: Getty Images

Team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris had said before the freak accident which claimed Hughes' life that the possibility of Clarke re-injuring the muscle had been his "biggest fear". Clarke's injury woes had also affected his form, highlighted by a lean series against Pakistan where he managed 57 runs in four innings.

Like many in the team, Clarke had a light session on Monday, doing little more than walking laps of the Adelaide Oval though he occasionally broke into a light jog.

Clarke, however, had proven his fitness on Sunday during a rigorous session under the eye of team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris. "He's been working really hard out there, I've got no worries at all to be honest," paceman Mitchell Johnson said of Clarke's fitness issues.

"He said he's 100 per cent fit and you go by that. He's always been a hard worker. You've got to put trust in him. It's really good to have him back in the team. There's going to be no fears at all whatsoever. We just want him to score runs and be that aggressive captain."

Clarke's presence will provide further reassurance for a team trying its best to deal with the emotional and mental issues arising from losing one of their own in such tragic circumstances. "It's a huge boost to have him back in and playing for us," Johnson, who spoke at the match eve press conference which is normally the captain's duty, said. "With his captaincy - and he's showed how strong he's been in the last couple of weeks with the tragedy we've had - it's really nice to have him back, he's a strong captain and we need him out there in this tough series."

Johnson said he had seen another side to Clarke, a long-time international teammate. "I think he has grown as a captain and as a person," Johnson said. "He just has something about him when he's out there as captain. Everyone listens and you're watching him, he just goes about the job really well.

"I really hope he can go out there and score a lot of runs for us. We all know he's really keen to do that. I think we've seen a new side to everyone, to be honest. It's been an emotional roller-coaster, how strong he's been as a person to stand up and do what he's done, I've definitely seen a different side to him."

Shaun Marsh, who had been called in as a shadow batsman, has been released to play for Western Australia in their Shield game against Victoria starting in Perth on Tuesday.

Selectors are backing the same pace trio which wrecked England last summer, recalling Ryan Harris for his first Test in nine months after knee surgery. Peter Siddle was preferred to NSW quick Josh Hazlewood, who will carry the drinks.