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Should Marsh, a joint Test vice-captain, return, it would be at the expense of Peter Handscomb, who battled technical issues in Adelaide and Perth and has only 68 runs at an average of 17 since his recall.
Langer said he liked what he saw on the wicket as the Australians trained on Christmas Eve but turned up the heat on venue staff to deliver a deck he says is important not just for this Test but also for the health and prosperity of Test cricket.
"I have said forever, the most important thing in Test cricket, in international cricket at the moment, are the pitches that we play on because if you have great pitches, you have contests between bat and ball. And then Test cricket will be alive and well and kicking," he said.
"If we don't, if we play on flat wickets which don't do anything, then it becomes a really boring game, and that's from someone who probably loves Test cricket more than anyone in this room.
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"It was great to see some grass on it. I am really looking forward to seeing how it plays. Hopefully, it's a contest between bat and ball because it's important, not just for this series, this Test match but also for world cricket, actually."
Langer confirmed the state of the wicket would ultimately decide whether Marsh, averaging a modest 26.08 with the bat after 30 Tests and 42.45 with the ball, would return.
"That's the truth. We look at that. In a perfectly balanced side, you have got someone who can bowl some overs, so Mitch becomes an attractive commodity" he said.
"This [wicket], although it looks like there is some grass on the wicket, there is a bit of moisture in it, but we also know the history of it. Our fast bowlers have been lucky, we have bowled less overs than the Indian bowlers at the moment, particularly [Jasprit] Bumrah. That's an important part of the series.
"The more we can look after those guys the better. It will come down to that decision. We haven't made that decision yet, though."
India have delivered 419.4 overs this series compared to Australia's 356. Bumrah has bowled the most of any quick (99.2), with Starc (81.5) carrying the next-highest load.
The Australians had four-time AFL premiership coach Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan, his long-time lieutenant and now Brisbane coach, provide input in the nets, while selection chairman Trevor Hohns was also an interested onlooker and had a good chat with Langer, also a fellow selector.
The tourists' experiment with a four-man pace attack that did not deliver the required results in Perth is likely to be shelved in Melbourne, with either Ravi Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja - each has had injury issues- pushing for a return.
They remain two of the game's best spinners, and how to handle them will also be a consideration at selection for Australia. Handscomb generally plays slow deliveries well, being what Langer said was a "very good player of spin bowling," but he added Marsh was a "pretty good player of spin bowling, too" despite his troubles on the recent tour of the United Arab Emirates.
Langer said the big three of Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins had yet to find their groove as a unit this summer but tipped that could happen in Melbourne.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon (16 wickets at 19.93) has been the stand-out bowler, with Starc (10 at 22.80), Hazlewood (eight at 23.12) and Cummins (five at 37.8) having their moments.
"All of them would admit at the moment they haven't quite nailed it in this series. That's exciting. We saw it in the Ashes last year where there were times they were all over England," Langer said.
"Nathan Lyon is literally world class the way he is going about his business. He has been so good to have in the team. And the other three, we are seeing great signs. There have been times when they have bowled worse and got more wickets. I am really excited whether it's in this Test match or the Sydney Test match or whenever, when those guys bowl as that unit, that is really positive. I can't wait to see that."
Langer said he was surprised to be told last week's wicket at the new Perth Stadium had been rated only "average" by match referee Ranjan Madugalle.
"I was really surprised actually. I guess a couple stayed low. But I thought it was such entertaining Test cricket – that was the fastest pitch I’ve ever seen in Perth and I’ve been there a long time," he said.
"I thought it was really exciting Test cricket, got a result on the fifth day. From a personal point of view I love seeing cricket played like that."
Jon Pierik is a sports writer with The Age, focusing primarily on AFL football, cricket and basketball. He has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.