Veletta to seek ACB guidance on Langer

Western Warriors coach Michael Veletta will seek guidance from Australian cricket selectors before deciding where Test opener Justin Langer bats this season.

Langer grinded out a gutsy century when recalled to the Australian side for the fifth Ashes Test as an opener and is now locked in a battle with the discarded Michael Slater for the one unsettled position in Australia's top order.

He has already approached Veletta about opening for WA in the early Pura Cup and ING Cup matches in a bid to impress selectors ahead of the first Test against New Zealand in Brisbane on November 8.

"He's obviously very keen because he's done well at international level," said Veletta, who replaced Wayne Clark at the end of last season.

Veletta is determined the Warriors' star-studded batting line-up doesn't underachieve as it did last year and has warned reputations would count for nothing at the selection table.

But the 37-year-old, who used to open for WA himself, admits he will seek guidance from Australian selectors in their plans for Langer.

"This side has an obligation to develop cricketers for Australia and we also have an obligation to develop cricketers for Western Australia to make our side a success," he said.

"We've got to be in a position to make a judgement call as to which is most important to us.

"And if it is to develop cricketers for Australia, which is very important to us, and Justin's role with Australia is as an opener, then I would suggest we would have to support that."

The Warriors have plenty of batting talent to choose from with Ryan Campbell, former Zimbabwe international Murray Goodwin, Marcus North, Adam Gilchrist and Scott Meuleman all touted as possible partners for regular opener Mike Hussey.

One thing working in Langer's favour is WA management's reluctance to unsettle Simon Katich from first drop after his stellar 1,009 run Pura Cup season last summer.

Veletta said today he considered the choice of an opening combination the most important state selectors would make ahead of the team's opening Pura Cup match against Queensland starting on October 17 at the Gabba.

"Call me old fashion, but a lot of our success has been generated on the success of our openers which has made our middle orders a lot better for it," Veletta said.

"At the moment we are in the enviable position of having a lot of players who can step up to the ranks of opening.

"Usually you get to this stage of a season and everyone is ducking for cover to try and bat in the middle order.

"But we've got a number of guys who've put their hand up to lead the batting for WA."