Australia's dirty dozen will summon up all their wounded pride, disappointment and anger from the MCG massacre in an attempt to mend their battered reputations when the fifth Ashes Test begins at the SCG tomorrow.
Cricket is the most individual of team sports and every player in the final XI - Ben Hilfenhaus or Doug Bollinger will be pouring the drinks - will be hell bent on saving face in the final Test of a harrowing summer.
Wounded captain Ricky Ponting is still in the trenches, attending Australian training yesterday to help with fielding and batting drills.
Mike Hussey claimed Ponting's appearance was indicative of the camaraderie within the squad, under new skipper Michael Clarke, and the burning intent to square the series.
"We have to start the rise again," Hussey said.
"Start the rise of getting back to where we want to be. Getting a team together we believe in and sticking with it and building back up to being No .1 in the world again.
"It's going to take time but it can start now. It will be a real moral victory for us if we can get it back to 2-all. But it is certainly hurting us guys a lot because we came in with a real belief we could win the Ashes."
The SCG will have a full house for the first three days as Australia fight for respect.
Clarke shoulders the burden of trying to bring Australia off the canvas. Hussey predicted he would be an energetic and imaginative captain but admitted there would be a surreal edge to entering the cauldron without Ponting in charge.
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