The Australians may have decided to rest their pace spearhead Brett Lee but Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni cautioned his batsmen against getting too complacent in their tri-series game.
The Indians have not yet decided on the playing eleven for the floodlit encounter but Sreesanth appears almost certain to be in the casualty list.
The Harbhajan Singh ban issue took a new twist on Monday with the ICC-appointed commissioner saying that "additional evidence" could be admissible in the hearing scheduled for January 29 and 30 in Adelaide.
Indian board, it is learnt, will not agree if fresh evidence in the form of transcript from a stump microphone emerges in the two-day hearing on Harbhajan Singh's appeal against a ban beginning in Adelaide on Monday.
Paceman Ishant Sharma scalped three wickets to brighten his prospects for a berth in the team for the third Test but it was an unexpected name that stole the limelight on the second day of the three-day tie between the tourists and ACT Eleven at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Friday.
Zaheer, a vital cog in India's bowling attack, suffered a muscle pull during the net session forcing the team management to wait till Wednesday to take a decision on his inclusion for the crucial game.
Not too concerned by Rahul Dravid's failure as opener, Indian skipper Anil Kumble on Saturday defended the embattled right-hander, urging him to relax and play his natural game to mould himself in the new role.
Zaheer Khan was roundly booed by Indian supporters at the MCG for the flurry of no-balls but apparently there was a reason to it.
'Whenever we have played aggressively against Australia, we have done well. We realise that if you give the Aussies a slight inch, they tend to walk over you,' Laxman said.
A rethink is on within the Indian ranks if it would be wise to put their trusted man in the middle order at the top of the ranks.
They will look to continue the momentum by fielding an unchanged side in the second Test at Durban.
India will have to back words with action in the first Test against South Africa on Friday.
There was some cheer for the Indian team as captain Rahul Dravid said he would be fit for the first Test in South Africa.
Greg Chappell hopes there is a turnaround in the team's fortunes sooner than later.
Sehwag said Dravid's absence and the poor form of Tendulkar put enormous pressure on the rest.
It will be a real test of character for the batsmen in the third ODI and another slip-up will only lead to a fresh uproar among fans.
Rain is again likely to play spoilsport in the second ODI between India and South Africa in Durban on Wednesday.
A lacklustre India go into the five-match ODI series against South Africa on Sunday with their batting and bowling still in disarray.
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