Australian Ricky Ponting wants national selectors to make up their mind at the earliest about who would fill in the big shoes of retired opener Matthew Hayden for the crucial tour of South Africa.

"I don't reckon (the selectors) will pick two openers (in addition to Simon Katich). I think they should make their mind up now and pick whoever they think is going to be the best selection for South Africa and possibly for the Ashes tour as well," Ponting said.