Wednesday, 19 September 2018:

TIM PAINE of Australia during the 4th Sunfoil Test match between South Africa and Australia at Bidvest Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Tim Paine says the blueprint outlining the way forward for Australian cricket teams is complete as the squad departs for a two-Test tour of the United Arab Emirates.

Paine joined the squad in Brisbane on Wednesday night after the birth of his son last week and said the team had all but finalised a cultural charter composed in response to March's ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.

Reports into the culture of Cricket Australia's head office as well as the team itself are underway following the incident that saw captain Steve Smith suspended alongside deputy David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.

The player charter, designed to ensure such scandals never happen again, is linked to those reports and Paine is confident the team can now prepare for Pakistan with clarity of mind.

It will be officially rolled out ahead of the Australian summer but Paine said the playing group and new coach Justin Langer had put the finishes touches on the document in camp on Tuesday night.

"It's about our actions as a team, not what we talk about," he said.

"The Australian way has always been to ... play hard and fair and that'll be no different this series.

"There's always a lot of eyes on the Australian cricket team wherever we play and this team is really clear on what's expected and our standards and we'll uphold them."

The wicketkeeper will again extend an invitation to his opposite number to shake hands before the first Test but said there was no danger of his side becoming too nice.

"Potentially, if they want to, it's a nice way to star the series, good show of sportsmanship but by no means does it mean we'll be taking it easy on them," Paine said.

"We're going there to win and play the way Australian teams are known for playing, which is really hard."

Michael Clarke's Australia were humbled 2-0 on their last visit to the neutral venue four years ago as Misbah-ul-Haq demoralised the visitors with the all-time Test record for the fastest fifty and equal-fastest hundred.

Australia will arrive this time without almost half of their first-choice side - pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are both injured - and five potential debutants.

"It's going to be hard work over there, no doubt," Paine said.

"Games drag along for three or four days and then things happen really quickly on day five.

"It's about having our team in a position to strike late in the game."

AAP