Dousing suggestions this new-look Australian side lacks selling power, Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland has declared there is an "air of excitement" around Steve Smith's side as authorities pin their hopes on improved attendances in Perth.
Sutherland also told Fairfax Media on Tuesday that CA needed to find a way to improve attendances in Brisbane, which had only 53,572  through the gates over more than four days of play. 
CA was not helped by sports fans largely being focused on the Melbourne Cup just two days before the Test started, while rain, among other potential factors, was also an issue in Brisbane.
The WACA did not host a Test last summer, in part because of its poor facilities and attendances (outside of Ashes summers), but Sutherland said this week's clash against New Zealand would give locals the chance to "welcome Test cricket back to Perth".
"Day one ticket sales for this Test have been strong. Obviously, it was disappointing for fans in WA to have missed out on seeing a Test last year, due to the unique World Cup year," he said on Tuesday.
"This is now a great chance to welcome Test cricket back to Perth and to see our new-look Test team try to carry on its strong form from Brisbane. I'm confident that locals will come out to support them.
"Cricket in the west is riding a wave of success right now. Strong domestic crowds, grassroots participation, domestic titles and players receiving national honours are proof of just how strong cricket is in that state.
"We believe international cricket has a very bright future in WA. The recommendations announced recently around future matches at the WACA and new Perth Stadium present great opportunities for the sport. The recommendations are both creative and pragmatic in recognising the enormous potential for cricket at Perth Stadium, while transforming, retaining and celebrating the historic WACA Ground, which is part of the fabric of cricket in this country."
However, the message to state associations and supporters is clear -  show up to your home Test or risk having it replaced.
Sutherland later told a lunch for chartered accountants in Hobart on Tuesday that fans needed to attend next month's Test against the West Indies. It will be the state's first Test since 2012.
 "To create a compelling case for more international cricket down here, the only real way to do that is for Tasmanians to show up in force at international matches to send a message to us and people in Australian cricket that international cricket is highly valued down here," Sutherland said.
The absence of marquee names such as a Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Shane Warne and Matthew Hayden has been seen by some as contributing to a lack of box-office selling power in a summer where the two opposing nations - New Zealand and the West Indies - aren't overly glamorous.
However, Smith's team does boast superstar opener David Warner, Mitchell Johnson, the fourth highest wicket-taker in Australian Test history, strike weapon Mitch Starc and Smith, the No.2-ranked batsman in the world (one point behind AB de Villiers).
Regardless, CA will get a major spike when the historic day-night Test is held in Adelaide later in the month, with ticket sales on par there with an Ashes summer. 
"I think there's been an air of excitement around the new-look Australian team. There's been generational change and already we can see players before us who will soon become household names," Sutherland said.
"After its performances in Brisbane, I think there will be plenty of people wanting to come and watch players like Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja."
The overall attendance in Brisbane edged the previous record for a Test against the Black Caps but Sutherland said "our expectations are certainly a lot higher than that".
"We need to look at ways to increase attendances in Brisbane, particularly given Queensland's strong desire to host the first Test of the summer," he said.
"As we know, that is always going to be a challenging period given that kids are still at school and adults are working. We had a similar issue with the limited-overs matches that we hosted at this time last year before crowds peaked in   December and over the holiday period. 
"Ideally, we would have started the Test summer a week later."
The Gabba, in need of an upgrade, is likely to retain its traditional season opener over the next two summers but could face a fight to even keep its Test status after the 2017-18 Ashes series with CA keen for states to bid for international fixtures.