Australia team management have put their Test players on lock-down for the next week, saying none of the 13-man squad will be playing in the Big Bash League ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Melbourne.

The Aussies are suffering from a spate of injuries, the latest of which are bowler Ben Hilfenhaus and skipper Michael Clarke, the former with a side strain and the latter with a hamstring injury.

The fast bowling ranks are especially depleted, and Arthur is hoping veteran Mitchell Johnson's return and batsman Usman Khawaja recall will pay off as they lead the series 1-0 after the win in Hobart.

Arthur said: "That's always going to be a conundrum for us, who do we play, who don't we play. We feel that the Test match is massively important on Boxing Day, we want to quarantine the 13 players. We're sitting with enough injuries as it is.

"We want Usman to go back and work really hard on his red ball game. I want him to go and do some work on just tightening his game up again. He's been practicing with a white ball, and we want to give him every opportunity to make it a success if he gets picked.

"Johnson didn't play for Brisbane Heat [on Tuesday night], and that was really an issue between Mitchell and his franchise. Not a bad issue, there was just dialogue between them, Mitchell's wife has just had a baby, so there was dialogue there.

"We just think it's best now that we quarantine those 13 players, because once we start letting one off then there's always the issue of why's he playing, why's he not playing. It's in the best interests of the 13 to get ready for Boxing Day."

The coach went on to comment on the inclusion of in-form Khawaja, who is in the squad as cover for skipper Clarke, should he not recover from his injury in time. Khawaja last played for Australia a year ago.

Arthur said: "I don't think we would have picked him if he hadn't shown that continued improvement that we wanted from him. I think Ussie's done well. It's no coincidence that you sit with Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja at Nos. 1 and 2 in the amount of Shield runs. They thoroughly deserve their opportunity to come back.

"It was just a year ago right here that both of them lost their places. So what they've done in a year to get back has been immense, and that's a credit to both of them. So to welcome Ussie back into the fold is going to be quite exciting."