Armed with a strong endorsement from skipper Sourav Ganguly, Railways off-spinner Kulamani Parida said he was 'mentally prepared' for the prestigious tour of Pakistan if selected.

"Let me wait, nothing is confirmed yet. I have done well in the domestic circuit for the past eight years. I am waiting for the call," Parida said at New Delhi on Saturday.

The 27-year old off-spinner has come into the reckoning after a finger injury ruled Harbhajan Singh out of the tour.

With leg-spinner Anil Kumble running out of time to prove his fitness after a shoulder problem which kept him out of the VB tri-series final in Australia, India are in desperate search of a specialist spinner.

Ganguly told a television news channel on Friday that Parida, along side Mumbai's Ramesh Powar, was the main contender for the off-spinner's spot in the Test team.

Parida said replacing Harbhajan would be a huge task.

"Harbhajan is a great bowler and taking his spot will place a great responsibility on my shoulders, but I am mentally prepared," he said.

Parida has so far taken 226 wickets from 69 matches at an average of 28.10 since making his first-class debut in 1996-97.

The Orissa-born player has also played for India 'A' against Australia in 1998 and for the Board President's XI against South Africa in 1995-96.

Parida said he was conscious about the importance of excelling against Pakistan on the cricketing arena.

"I am aware of the high-pressure nature of an Indo-Pak clash and lot of prestige is involved in these matches.

"Playing well is crucial for players of both the teams," he said.

The short-statured, wiry lad said flight was his main weapon and he expected to play a containing role in the coming series.

"Tracks in Pakistan are suited for fast bowlers and their batsmen are also good players of spin bowling.

"My priority would be to bowl a run-saving line and flight is my weapon," he said.

Fighting his shyness against a thronging media, Parida said he would be pained if he earned a Test spot at the cost of his state-mate Murali Kartik.

"Kartik and I play for the same team in domestic circuit and as bowlers in tandem go, we share a strong bonding.

"It will be painful if I made it to the team and he was left out," he said.