Fast bowler Stuart Clark will have a fitness test on Saturday to determine whether he will play in the New Delhi Test.

Clark wants to test his injured elbow in the nets at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Saturday and he said if there is no considerable improvement from the injury he does not believe he will remain with the squad.

"I'm confident of getting through, but if I don't I think I'll be going home," Clark said.

If he fails the fitness test, he will become the third Australian player sent home from this increasingly difficult tour of India.

Opening batsman Phil Jaques and leg-spinner Bryce McGain returned home with Jaques having a back operation on Thursday which will keep him out for most of the season.

Clark injured his right elbow during the first Test in Bangalore. He had a cortisone injection to relieve the problem and missed the second Test at Mohali.

Coach Tim Nielsen was unsure if Clark would be available for the third Test beginning October 29.

"The real test will be when he tries to bowl flat out or bowls two spells, when he fronts up two days in a row," Nielsen was quoted as saying by 'The Australian'.

"These little niggle injuries which always need injecting or need help are a bit of a concern because you have to give them time to rest.

"Then you don't have a huge amount of time before back-to-back Tests to try it out again. At the moment, everything is going along as well as we could hope but that's without bowling. He's here to bowl and we have to make sure he's right to start the Test," added Nielsen.