Opener Steve Smith is ready for the challenge of making a big score at the bowler-friendly Gabba and resuming his battle with West Indies firebrand Shamar Joseph.

Smith was out to Joseph's first ball in Test cricket in Adelaide last week with a delivery that moved away off the seam.

The 34-year-old said he would not be caught unawares again by Joseph in the second Test, which starts on Thursday.

"Facing the first ball from Shamar, I didn't really know what to expect," Smith said on Wednesday.

"A lot of new bowlers have got me out before when I have faced them for the first time, so it was nothing new.

"He provides decent pace, good angles on the crease, the ability to straighten the one down the line across the right-hander. He looks good."

Smith has yet to make a century this summer but skipper Pat Cummins said this week the newly installed opener was on the cusp of a huge total.

Despite a "challenging" net session on Tuesday evening against the pink ball, Smith remained confident of succeeding in the day-night Test.

"The ball was nipping around a bit and the brand new balls are quite difficult to face," he said.

"I am batting well and hitting the ball nicely. I made some good decisions last week for a lot of the time I was out there and I enjoyed the experience first time opening.

"Hopefully I can make some good decisions this week and get a total."

The ball has been dominating the bat this summer, with Smith saying, "There are not too many (of the) 500-plus scores that we were getting three or four years ago pretty consistently.

"There has certainly been a lot more in (the pitches). The Kookaburra balls are staying harder as well. The new balls seem to have another coat of lacquer on them.

"Even after 80 overs on a couple of occasions there is still writing on the ball and you can see it still shaping and remaining reasonably hard.

"It has been pretty hard on the batters the last few years but it has still been fun."

The hosts have a remarkable record in day-night Tests, having won 11 out of 11.

"Our formula probably stays the same," Smith said.

"I'm intrigued by this wicket. The only (day-night) game I played here before was against Pakistan where they almost chased down 480 which is kind of unheard of."