Veteran paceman Brett Lee is ready to turn the clock back as he aims to win back his Test berth with a successful one-day international campaign against England starting on Friday night at The Oval.
Lee will lead the visitors' attack for Australia's seven-match series against England which is doubling as a dress rehearsal for the side's ICC Champions Trophy defence in South Africa later this month.
It has been a frustrating tour for Lee, who was set to play a major part in Australia's Ashes defence until an injury just days out from the first Test cruelled his campaign.
Captain Ricky Ponting hinted upon returning home that Lee's performances in 50-over cricket over the next two months would have a large bearing as to whether the 32-year-old returned to the Test fray.
But Lee - the world's top-ranked one-day bowler in his prime - showed he was still capable of frightening top-order international batsmen earlier this week.
Admittedly, the sample size was small but he reached the high 140s (kmh) in his only over during the Twenty20 games which preceded this series.
"And he's felt sharp in the nets as well, he's been bowling quite quick," said Michael Clarke, whose stint as captain will continue for another three matches.
"He's as fit as I've seen him. He's training as hard as I've seen him train and he's certainly got that hunger. I'm certain Brett will have a really good one-day series."
Lee will be envisaging a happier outing than his most recent game at The Oval where, against a rampant Chris Gayle, he was creamed for 56 runs by the West Indies in the ICC World Twenty20.
England captain Andrew Strauss was bracing for a barrage from a revved-up Lee.
"I'm expecting to see the ball flying through to the keeper quite quickly," he said.
"He's obviously been chomping at the bit to get out on the field and play for the last two or three weeks. He's a proven performer in international cricket and I'm sure he'll be very motivated to do well in this series."
Lee's form will have a major bearing on Australia's fortunes during a hectic two months of 50-over cricket spanning three continents.
Australia will head to South Africa later this month for the ICC Champions Trophy, which it won in 2006, then to the subcontinent to renew hostilities with bitter rival India in a seven-match series in late October and early November.
Clarke said those matches were vital for Australia, not only from the point of view of the 2011 World Cup but also in restoring the country's standing as a force on the world stage.
"We want to perform well, we want to win every game we play," he said. "That's how you build momentum, how you experience team bonding and team success is by getting wins under your belt."
Meanwhile, deputy wicket-keeper Tim Paine and all-rounder James Hopes are shaping as the leading candidates to take the injured Brad Haddin's place at the top of the order.
Haddin will miss this series and the tournament in South Africa as he recovers from finger surgery.