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Australia are confident Mitchell Starc will be able to play out the second Test against Pakistan despite suffering tightness in his left hamstring.

Mitchell Starc is battling tightness in his left hamstring and is set to be managed through the remainder of the second Test against Pakistan, while fellow quick Peter Siddle will be held over as back-up for Starc in the upcoming T20 series.

Starc was assessed on Wednesday evening by team medical officials, who are confident the left-arm paceman will be able to play out the series-deciding Test in Abu Dhabi.

Australia are set to play three T20s against Pakistan after the Tests, and the decision to hold Siddle back suggests Starc is no certainty to play in the white-ball fixtures.

It is unclear whether Starc, who battled debilitating cramps in both his calves and groins during the drawn first Test in Dubai, will bowl when Pakistan resume their second innings on Thursday at 2-144, leading Australia by 281 runs.

Starc snared the wicket of opener Mohammad Hafeez on Wednesday but bowled just four overs and spent time fielding in the slips cordon.

Opener Aaron Finch said after play that he expected the paceman would be fine to continue bowling.

"It's just a bit of management of Mitch there," Finch said.

"Obviously the conditions are pretty hot so we are trying to look after the fast bowler."

National selectors are wary of over-bowling the gun quick who on talent is a near-automatic selection in all three formats.

Australia's home summer schedule includes Tests against India and Sri Lanka and white-ball games against both India and South Africa.

Starc also looms as a pivotal figure in next year's World Cup and Ashes campaigns.

Coach Justin Langer hinted that Starc's workload would be managed after the first Test in Dubai.

"It's always the million dollar question: what do we do with the fast bowlers," Langer said.

"We'll manage it. It's the start of the season and hopefully we'll manage them well throughout the summer and this tour so far."

Starc struggled to make an impact on a flat deck in Dubai, grinding in hot conditions to take 1-90 in the first innings and bowling just six overs in the second for figures of 0-18.