'Not great': Steve Smith's frank admission about troublesome injury

Steve Smith admits the injury that threatened to rub him out of the First Test against India, is still giving him trouble ahead of the Boxing Day Test.

However, Smith remains confident the nagging back complaint won't prevent him building on his imperious MCG record.

BONE OF CONTENTION: Test great wants little-used rule implemented

ROUGH: Brutal Virat Kohli reality exposed after first Test shocker

The former captain was under an injury cloud going into the first Test in Adelaide, which the Aussies won after a record collapse from India.

Smith was hampered by the injury in the build-up to the match and failed to have his usual impact with the bat.

He made just one run from 29 balls before nicking Ravichandran Ashwin in the hosts' first innings and finished unbeaten on one in the second dig.

The 31-year-old was forced to withdraw from a nets session two days before the series opener got underway, and says he feared he would be ruled out.

While Smith admits that his back is still not 100% right, he insists it is manageable, four days out from the Boxing Day Test.

"It's still a bit stiff but it didn't hamper me too much throughout the (first Test)," Smith said, adding he put his dismissal down to Ashwin's good bowling.

"It's just something I need to manage whenever it goes and I probably haven't had an episode since 2014, I think it was, so hopefully they can continue to be six years apart if they come.

"If I'm moving around and laying down I'm good.

"If I sit around for too long it's not great for it, but I'm not worried about it.

"I think everything will be fine and I'll be good to go."

MCG a happy hunting ground for Smith

Smith has made a habit of destroying opponents at the MCG, with four centuries - three of them unbeaten - and three fifties in seven Test matches dating back to 2010.

His Test average of 113.50 in Melbourne is higher than at any other ground where he has played more than once.

By comparison, his next best average on home soil is 67.88 at the SCG.

"I like batting at the MCG and (on) those big occasions," Smith said.

"I like to try and make the most of them and help the team out.

"There's nothing like the thrill and you get the shivers down your spine when you walk out to bat on Boxing Day with the crowd yelling, and it's like a dream come true in a way.

"As a kid I always wanted to play in a Boxing Day Test match."

with AAP