PERTH, Dec 17 AAP - He looks like a pirate and loves nothing better than plundering bowling attacks with his unique brand of swash-buckling cricket.

The dashing Ryan Campbell is set for his second taste of international one-day cricket when the Australian team is named tomorrow for Sunday's day-night match against Sri Lanka at the WACA ground.

The 30-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman is tipped to again replace West Australian team-mate Adam Gilchrist who is sitting out the match with a slight groin strain and knee soreness.

If so it will be his second international one-day after he scored 38 from 52 balls in a 23-run loss to New Zealand at the SCG last season when filling in for Gilchrist.

While Campbell is no Gilchrist, Gabba fans can attest to the right-hander's entertainment value after his 42 from 28 balls in Australia A's win over Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Such was the audacity of Campbell's two flick shots over the Sri Lankan keeper that viewers could have been excused for thinking they had stumbled upon a game of backyard cricket.

His radical style has seemed even more appropriate this summer with his wild facial hair.

Campbell grew up in the goldfields city of Kalgoorlie where he developed a fossicker's inventive style.

But former WA team-mate Simon Katich was one person who was hardly surprised at Campbell's improvisation last weekend after spending the last six summers playing together.

Katich did have reservations about Campbell's current look.

"He's sporting a new-look mullet and he has had fair bit of growth happening, he's looking a bit eccentric actually," Katich said.

But the current NSW player said any comparison with the destructive play of Gilchrist was difficult.

"It is hard to compare anyone with Gilly, but in terms of a guy who can play some strokes, Campbo's right up there," Katich said.

He put Campbell's unconventional scoring ways to having a superb eye.

"He picks up the ball pretty early and he plays shots other blokes probably wouldn't," he said.

"He can pick up fours and sixes with shots that aren't conventional but are totally effective."

In a recent four-day match against Victoria, Campbell when berserk mid-innings with 10 fours in 18 deliveries before being lowered by a ball which struck him in the groin.

He dropped to his knees and crawled along like a desperate man searching for water in the desert.

He was out only five runs later for 75.

"Campbo can change the tempo of a game, because he scores so quickly he also takes the pressure off the batsman at the other end," Katich said.

Whatever happens for Campbell this weekend, be assured of one thing, when he is at the crease tune in, because it will not be dull.

© 2002 AAP

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.