Langer sustained the injury while batting for Western Australia when he was hit in the rib cage by Victorian paceman Gerard Denton in Melbourne on Saturday.

He retired hurt and was taken to hospital for precautionary scans, which revealed a hair-line fracture.

Langer will travel to Brisbane to join the Australian squad as planned, and his progress will be monitored by team medical staff in the lead-up to Thursday's Test.

Should the 34-year-old left-hander withdraw, the most likely replacement would be Langer's state teammate Mike Hussey.

Hussey has also been in excellent form at one-day level for Australia.

But the Test veteran said there would be no need for a standby player.

"I'll be playing on Thursday," Langer said late Saturday.

"Apparently with a cracked rib the thing you have to get used to is the pain... I'm not going to miss a Test match."

Langer said he apparently has a break in his seventh rib which is attached to the diaphragm.

"That's why I've got this breathlessness at the moment," he said.

Cricket Australia medical officer Trefor James said in a statement: "Justin was in considerable pain after receiving the knock to the rib cage, and scans taken of that area have discovered a small fracture in one of his ribs.

"We are optimistic though that he will be able to take his place in the Australian line-up for next week's Test. However he will need to be monitored prior to that time before a final decision is made."