West Indies are likely to be bolstered by the return of captain Chris Gayle and paceman Jerome Taylor for the second Test against Australia in Antigua on Friday.
Australia needs only a draw to retain the Frank-Worrell Trophy, but its task will be far from straightforward after the home side showed a keen fighting spirit in the first Test at Sabina Park last week.
Australia's 95-run win hardly reflected the closeness of that contest and the tourists' top-order, severely tested at Sabina Park, will have their hands full should Taylor return to assist Fidel Edwards and Darren Powell.
Australia woes at the top of its batting order deepened with veteran Matthew Hayden being ruled out of the remainder of the series.
Hayden is set to fly home to receive treatment on an Achilles injury suffered during his brief stint in the Indian Premier League.
"Haydos will be going home pretty much ASAP," said skipper Ricky Ponting.
"He had some scans the morning after the game in Jamaica and there's some tendon damage."
"He just hasn't come along as (physiotherapist) Alex Kountouris thought he would have up until this point. It's just not going anywhere, so we just want him to get home ... and get him back on a program to get him right for the Champions Trophy."
Hayden's departure has sparked debate over who will open the batting for the Australians.
In Hayden's absence during the first Test, Phil Jaques and stand-in opener Simon Katich could only contribute a total of 26 runs in two innings.
There have been calls for Michael Hussey to be elevated to the top of the order, a move made all the more likely by the return of recently-installed vice-captain Michael Clarke after he missed the first Test due to family reasons.
Hussey made his Test debut as an opener against the West Indies in November 2005 when he batted alongside Hayden.
The West Australian's elevation in the order would make way for the return of Clarke, meaning either Katich or Brad Hodge would be handed the task of carrying the drinks.
Hodge was the beneficiary of Hayden's injury after it was announced he would remain in the Caribbean, having originally been selected to replace Clarke for the first Test.
Gayle's return would inject some much-needed class into the West Indies top order.
The left-hander is likely to open with Devon Smith, while Taylor would come in for axed spinner Amit Jaggernauth.
Meanwhile, the match will be the first at the newly-constructed Vivian Richards Stadium.
In the past, the old pitch at the Antigua Recreation Ground has thrown up some high-scoring matches, but the new pitch will present somewhat of an unknown commodity.