After two losses in two matches, India need a moment of inspiration or three when they take on Australia in their tri-series match in Sydney on Republic Day/Australia Day Monday.
With both countries enjoying a holiday, plenty of eyes will be focussed on the proceedings as India look for their first win of the tri-series.
The first match against Australia did not quite go according to plan, with India then suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of England, when they were bowled out for a paltry score, which the not-so-good-in-ODI-cricket English side chased down with ridiculous ease.
Australia's win over England in their match in Hobart on Friday kept India very much in the running to face the hosts in the final, but if they lose to the in-form team of the tri-series then they can firmly start looking at that World Cup defence rather than thinking about a possible final.
Because, if India do not, at the very least, avoid defeat against Australia at the SCG on Monday, they will need to do what England did to them the last time those two teams met – win by a bonus point.
To avoid that tall order, a win will be welcomed, and MS Dhoni will hope for a more assured batting performance from his team, after the first two games saw most of their willow-wielders fail to make an impression.
For Australia, this match will be one to experiment and give some of the players a break as well as an opportunity to perform, having already sealed their place in the final courtesy victory over England at the Bellerive Oval on Friday.
While there is little at stake for Australia, the hosts will not want to see their winning streak in the tri-series stop at three, while they will also be keen to put on a show for the spectators on Australia Day.
There will be plenty more changes in the Australia team, with George Bailey and David Warner, who missed the last game through suspension and injury respectively, set to come back in, while Shane Watson, Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazelwood could also make a return.
Mitchell Johnson is also back and firing in the nets, but he is unlikely to be risked, especially with the tri-series final and then the World Cup in sight.
"I faced him last night and that's never pleasant, so his pace was still pretty good," skipper Bailey said of Johnson, who has not played in this tri-series so far due to a slight hamstring problem. "He's had another hit out today.
"He's going reasonably well. I don't think he'll play tomorrow but he'll be building up for Perth. He's really close and knowing how excited the quicks get in Perth I'd imagine he'd be pretty keen to have a crack there."
For India, Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja are back in contention, but Rohit Sharma, the man who cracked a wonderful ton in the last game against Australia, remains on the sidelines.
"Rohit is not fit for this game," said Dhoni. "Everybody else, including Ishant and Jadeja are available for selection.
"We will have to decide whether we want to give them a few more net sessions before playing them or give them a game right away.
"When it comes to Jadeja we will also have to monitor his throwing ability and decide whether to have him in the deep to cover the big boundaries or have him inside the circle."
Where to Watch Live
Get the Report and Final Scenario HERE
India vs Australia is set to begin at 2.20 pm AEDT (8.50 am IST, 3.20 am GMT) with live coverage in India on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports HD1. Viewers in India can catch the match via free live streaming online on Starsports.com or also by the Starsports Live Pro option.
Watch Match 5 of the Tri-Series live in Australia on Channel 9, while the option to live stream the match is on Cricket Australia Live or the Cricket Australia Live App. Audience in the UK can catch Australia take on India live on Sky Sports 2 or by live streaming on Sky Go or Watch Sky Sports.
The game can be watched live by viewers in the US on Willow TV, while it can also be live streamed on Willow TV Online. Audience in the Middle East and North Africa can catch the ODI game live on OSN with the live stream option on OSN Play.
Confirmed lineups: India: Dhawan, Rahane, Rayudu, Kohli, Raina, Dhoni, Binny, Jadeja, Patel, Shami, Ishant.
Australia: Finch, Warner, Smith, Bailey, Maxwell, Marsh, Haddin, Faulkner, Starc, Doherty, Hazlewood.
