SHOAIB Akhtar looks set to play in Pakistan's Boxing Day Test with Australia after recovering from a shoulder problem.

Worcestershire's new pace ace has shrugged off the injury picked up in the 491-run defeat to the Aussies in Perth last week.

Shoaib -- who will take up the County's first overseas berth next season -- took six wickets in that first Test and was Pakistan's best player by some distance.

He hurt his shoulder while fielding and bruised his ankle when some strapping tore off his skin but Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer is confident his main strike bowler will be available for selection.

"His shoulder seems fine and he did all the exercises today. The skin tear is fine," said Woolmer.

The fastest bowler in the world has also hit the headlines for refusing to cut down his run-up, despite advice from Pakistan legend Imran Khan.

And, responding to the controversy regarding Shoaib's long run-up, Woolmer indicated that there's to be no immediate change.

"It's an ongoing discussion -- this is not the tour to change it or to change anything really," he said. "If there's any change it will have to be done after the tour."

Shoaib had responded to the advice by saying: "I'll ask you a question. Can a plane take off without a run-up? No, so I've got to take the run.

"It's how I generate my pace and everything flows into the right action. I'm not going to cut down."