Captain Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag, the two openers, might be feeling weak from the effects of cold and flu but there is good news for the two experienced players as they are expected to be declared fit for the crucial tie.

Sehwag and Ganguly have not been in the best of form but both would be required to come to terms with Shane Bond's blistering pace and movement which has given him figures of 6 for 23 and 4 for 17 in the last two games.

Bond is lethal and even when he is mild does not go for many runs. India would be looking to emerge with least damage against the outstanding paceman at the peak of his powers.

The Indian camp is cautiously optimistic it would not have to miss out on either of the two stars. It leaves too much of work to do for Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif in the company of youngsters such as MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Venugopala Rao.

The youngsters in the team are secure in the knowledge that coach Greg Chappell is willing to give them that extra leeway to allow them to gain roots in the team.