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PERTH, Thursday (AFP) - Australian one-day captain Ricky Ponting said Thursday he may step up from number three to open the batting in Sunday's triangular series cricket clash against Sri Lanka.

Ponting said he was considering filling the vacancy caused by the absence of dynamic batsman-wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, out of contention with minor injuries.

Ponting, celebrating his 28th birthday, said the new ball job would go to himself, Darren Lehmann - vice-captain for the match in place of Gilchrist - or Damien Martyn. Whoever pads up for the opening job will have the prolific Matthew Hayden at the other end.

In Ponting's only previous opening opportunity in one-day international company, he scored 87 not out from 109 balls in a comfortable victory over Zimbabwe in Harare three years ago. Ponting said Lehmann and Martyn were probably leading the running at present to walk out to the crease with Hayden.

"I have done it before and it was one idea we threw up the other day, but Darren and Damien would probably be ahead of me at the moment," he said.

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