Melbourne, Feb 26 : Former opener David Boon is hugely impressed by Australian opening batsman Phil Hughes.

Hughes is set to open Australia's batting with fellow left-hander Simon Katich in the first Test against South Africa starting today in Johannesburg.

Boon says an incident in a Sheffield Shield game in Hobart in December underlined Hughes' potential.

"He has a big ticker because I know Hilfy (Ben Hilfenhaus) cleaned him up with one at Bellerive. But he took his time, got himself right and got back into the job and nothing changed," The Courier Mail quoted Boon, as saying.

Hughes Shield figures this season of 891 runs at 74.25 might also have something do with his selection in the Test squad after Cricket Australia scanned the nation for the next Matthew Hayden.

"I think he knows where his stumps are. What I see is someone very strong in character. He's attuned to what his game is and he doesn't try to go outside it," Boon said.

"I probably shouldn't say too much because they don't know too much about him, but he knows his game and anyone who knows cricket, will see where his scoring areas are and what he does outside those," he added.

Hughes admitted to feeling "a few nerves" in his first game for Australia, scoring 24 and 53 in a three-day game against a South African President's XI in Potchefstroom last week. (ANI)