Mike Hussey is set to make his long-awaited Test debut against the West Indies on Thursday, after opener Justin Langer admitted his brave bid to prove his fitness was likely to fail.

Langer, who broke a rib while batting for Western Australia in an ING Cup match on Saturday, has won a 24-hour reprieve and now has until Tuesday morning to prove he will be fit to play.

But after insisting on Sunday night he was a "100 per cent chance" of playing in the first Test at the Gabba, the 34-year-old left-hander admitted on Monday, his chances of gaining the nod were slim.

"If it's anything like this morning, I don't think I've got that much chance," said Langer, who has played 53 consecutive matches since winning a recall for The Oval Test of the 2001 Ashes tour.

"It's pretty sore and it's a lot worse than I thought it was when I spoke to everybody yesterday.

"I'm not so worried about getting another hit in the ribs. It's just the fact that it's hard to run and it's hard to breathe.

"You can be as optimistic as you like. But I saw the intensity and the way the guys trained this morning and if I'm not up to 100 per cent, I wouldn't be playing on Thursday."

The 94-Test veteran, who appears set to miss the chance to play his 100th Test on home soil at the SCG in January against South Africa, says he has been advised to rest for 10 days, which should have him ready to return for the second Test in Hobart starting on November 17.

But if he is forced to step aside, Langer said he could not be more delighted that the 30-year-old Hussey would get the chance to make his Test debut.

"He's your consummate professional and I've watched him since he was an 18-year-old kid," said Langer.

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