David Nilsson will play for Australia in the eight-nation Intercontinental Cup in Sydney next month.
He'll probably join the Australian squad within "a couple of days".
"There's a lot of young guys in the squad I've never met, so I'm looking forward to that," he said.
Nilsson, who returned to Australia 10 days ago after his eighth season with the Milwaukee Brewers, is recovering from a fractured thumb sustained last month.
Nilsson, 29, said his availability for the Olympics was a matter for "future consideration".
"My immediate playing future beyond the Intercontinental Cup remains a matter for my family and I to decide and I'm just looking forward to Sydney in a couple of weeks."
The Australian team's offensive firepower and leadership will be boosted by United States Major League catcher David Nilsson, who has made himself available for the Intercontinental Cup. Nilsson will be one of the highest-profile players at the 3-14 November tournament in Sydney. It will be the first time the left-handed slugger has represented Australia at an official tournament.
Major League catcher David Nilsson made a low-key appearance for Australia yesterday when it trounced The Netherlands 11-3 in a practice game on the Gold Coast.
Nilsson, who became a free agent when he completed his eighth season with Milwaukee last month, caught for four innings yesterday and notched one hit from two trips to the plate.
"It's a real bonus for the squad to have David around," manager Mike Young said.
"With his wealth of experience it goes without saying just how much he can contribute."
Nilsson last week confirmed his availability for the eight-nation Intercontinental Cup to be contested at the Sydney Olympic venues from November 3-14.
But Nilsson has reserved a decision on whether he will forfeit a lucrative new contract with a US club next year to represent Australia at the Olympics.
Australia's finest baseballer, Nilsson was honoured with selection in the 70th All Star Game at Boston's historic Fenway Park in July.
Nilsson, 29, who has recovered from a fractured thumb which prematurely ended his season last month, is likely to appear in today's game against The Netherlands at Brisbane's Holloway Field at 2pm.
Young has cut 12 players from the original squad during the past two weeks and will take 25 to contest this weekend's tournament in Lismore against Olympic champion Cuba, Italy and Japan.
A further three players (a pitcher and two position players) will be cut prior to Australia's opening Intercontinental Cup game against The Netherlands on November 3.
The Intercontinental Cup, one of three major pre-Olympic test events, will involve Cuba, USA, Italy, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, The Netherlands and Australia.
Plenty of people have joined in the baking of soccer's prodigal prodigy Harry Kewell, who deserves all he's copping-but Dave Nilsson hasn't been one of them.
Australia's best baseballer has been too busy guiding his team into the Intercontinental Cup finals with a performance that has just underscored the already obvious: his presence next year is absolutely crucial to the host team's Olympic campaign.
But he is no more certain to be there than Kewell is. Nilsson claims he is not even thinking about next year yet, but the outcry over young Harry must be impossible to ignore. A gold medal tomorrow night will only turn up the heat.
By Bernie Pramberg
Australia will field their strongest ever team without fear of intimidation from baseball giants Cuba and the United States at the Intercontinental Cup in Sydney from November 3-14.
Only five members of the 25-man Australian squad have not played professionally in the USA and manager Mike Young has assembled the best-balanced team yet to represent at international level.
"We have more depth, experience, speed and power in the middle-order than ever before," Young said.
"The Cubans have tried to intimidate our young players in past years but we've had hard guys with pro experience since the rules on professionalism were relaxed in 1997. We can't be intimidated. We respect them but there's no way intimidation is a factor."
Cuba, a veritable production line of talent for the US major leagues, are reigning world champions and won gold medals at the Barcelona and Atlanta Olympics.
An aura of arrogance and aggressiion has historically surrounded Cuban teams which have inveriably produced winniing performances in the international arena.
Young watched Cuba beat the USA in the final of the PanAm Games mid-year and believes the overall standard of play has improved "two-fold" since the ban on professionals was lifted in 1997.
"Teams now have depth in every position which is vital in a round-robin tournament like this," he said.
Young rejected the notion Australia's fate would hang on the performance of David Nilsson, who has completed eight years with major league club Milwaukee.
"David would not like to be labelled as some sort of one-man team," Young said. "There's lots of focus on players like Nilsson and Gonzo (Paul Gonzalez) but we have others who can step up and impact on a game.
"Since joining our program David has enjoyed himself thoroughly. It's not like he's 'the man' or anything like that..."
Gonzalez was voted Most Valuable Player at the 1997 Intercontinental Cup, averaging a stunning .600 at bat.
The Intercontinental Cup is one of three major pre-Olympic test events being held in Sydney.
Born: Brisbane, December 14, 1969
Height: 193cm
Weight: 106kg
Bats: Left-handed
Throws: Right-handed
Major league club: Milwaukee Brewers
Major league debut: May 18, 1992
Best major league performance: Hitting two home runs in one inning.
How signed: As a free agent (1987).
Toughest pitcher faced: Roger Clemens.
Career highlight: Winning the Intercontinental Cup with Australia last week.
Which sportsman or woman do you most admire?: All of them.
Five people you would like to spend New Year's Eve with: My wife Amanda, my son Jacob, my daughter Tyla, who is due to be born on Monday, and my parents Pat and Tim.
