The young left-hander impressed in Sri Lanka and now hopes to nail down a spot in Australia's limited-overs teams
Head focused ahead of South Africa tour
Emerging batsman Travis Head reckons it will be harder to stay in the Australian side than it was to get there.
Head impressed in his first extended run in national colours, looking capable against Sri Lanka's spinners on wickets prepared to suit them during the recent one-day international tour.
The 22-year-old says he felt comfortable during the five-match ODI series and the two T20 Internationals, but knows challengers are eyeing his spot in the Australian team.
"Probably the hardest thing is to stay in the side," Head told reporters in Adelaide on Friday.
"Once you get in there, there's a mountain of guys sitting on the sidelines that are class players and getting a lot of runs and putting pressure on you.
"There's always nerves and what-not being the young guy in the side and playing for Australia, it's a dream to do it. I'm just loving it at the minute.
"The more pressure will come once you try to stay in the side with guys breathing down your neck ... at the early stage you don't quite feel that, you're just going out and trying to express yourself."
With recalled allrounder Glenn Maxwell stealing the show in his international comeback with a stunning century in the first T20I, Head's brutal 18-ball 45 to cap off Australia's innings went somewhat unnoticed.
But the left-hander, who has now scored 135 runs in his six ODIs, hopes to cement his spot on Australia's limited overs tour of South Africa starting later this month.
And while he's been touted as a contender for a spot in Australia's Test middle-order after his breakout Sheffield Shield campaign last summer, Head isn't getting his hopes up just yet.
The South Australia captain admits he needed to consistently bank big scores to be considered.
"I am probably a little bit off still," Head said.
"I have got to get a lot of runs. I think the Test side that was in Sri Lanka, they all average 50, they have got a lot of runs under their belt and a lot of experienced players in that side.
"So for me it's just about doing what I can do well - get runs, be consistent. To play Test cricket, it's the goal. (But) a lot of hard work still needs to happen."