Scott Boland reveals Mitch Starc is suffering 'a bit of a niggle' in ribs after difficult day three at MCG

Australian fast bowler Scott Boland has confirmed fellow paceman Mitch Starc is carrying an injury.

Starc has been suffering a niggle around his ribs, but is determined to see out the remaining two days of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

It topped off a disappointing day three at the MCG, with Australian unable to remove India from the crease, leaving the visitors trailing by just 116 runs with one wicket remaining.

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Starc was down on pace during his overs on day three and looked uncomfortable at stages.

But teammate Boland isn't concerned about what lies ahead, at least over the last two days of the Boxing Day Test for Starc.

"He's OK. He just had a bit of a niggle somewhere in his back or rib, I don't know, somewhere back there, but he came out after the break and was bowling 140km/h, so I think he's going to be fine," Boland said at the end of day three.

Boland also was quick to praise Starc's durability under duress, which is built on his past triumphs.

"I think he is underrated for how tough he is," Boland began.

"A couple of years ago here at the MCG, he had a broken finger and we're pretty much planning for him not to bowl at all and then he came out and bowled 140km/h swingers.

"He's someone who can play through a lot of pain, and you can probably tell."

And Boland admitted that it's not unusual to be carrying injuries as a fast bowler with a heavy playing schedule.

"He's played close to 90 Test matches now. And as a fast bowler, there's not many games where you do play without any niggle at all," he said,

"He's (Starc) someone who can still bowl at the same pace even when he is really sore, which is a great trait to have."