Astral Combat with Natural Weapon Options

[Machiavelli]

Short Question:

Shapeshifters are dual. If you have access to a natural weapon, you can use it at astral combat and depend on your physical attributes instead on your mental ones. But can you simply attack with the close-combat skill instead of astral combat? What if you are in your human form? Your aura is still an animal (which has a natural weapon). Does this qualify for such an attack or would you need to shift?