India, still missing inspirational batsman Sachin Tendulkar, will pin their hopes on history rather than form when they face buoyant Australia in the second Test starting on Thursday.
Australia start favourites after winning by 217 runs in the opening match of the four-Test series in Bangalore on Sunday and are looking for a first series victory in India since 1969.
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India's top order failed in Bangalore in the absence of the injured Tendulkar, whose recovery from a left elbow injury has been slow.
Without him the team have suffered a series of one-day collapses and their batting confidence is in tatters.
Rahul Dravid hit a defiant 60 in the second innings in Bangalore, but no one else in the top order reached 50.
They will be boosted by off spinner Harbhajan Singh's Test comeback after almost a year out following surgery on his spinning finger.
The 24-year-old bowler took 11 wickets in Bangalore to give notice of his intention to repeat his 2001 heroics when he captured 32.
HIGHLY MOTIVATED
Australia will need no extra motivation than leg spinner Shane Warne's impending world record for most Test wickets.
The 35-year-old bowler is just one shy of equalling Sri Lankan off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan's mark of 532 and is perfectly placed on a Chepauk stadium pitch which traditionally helps slow bowlers.
Warne struggled on his previous two tours in India and went for almost 50 runs apiece for his four wickets in Bangalore.
Warne claimed Vangipurappu Laxman's wicket cheaply in both innings, however, shaking the morale of the batsman who hit a record 281 to inspire India's comeback in the second test in 2001.
Stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist backed Warne saying he was happy as long as his champion bowler took such quality wickets.
Young Michael Clarke's sparkling 151 on debut has also boosted their batting confidence in the absence of injured captain Ricky Ponting.
Australia are also prepared to restrain their natural aggression in order to succeed on spin-friendly Indian pitches.
Both teams will hope they win the toss to bat first on a pitch where spinners could dominate on the last two days.
India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Akash Chopra, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, V V S Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Parthiv Patel, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, Murali Karthik.
Australia: Adam Gilchrist (captain), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Simon Katich, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Michael Clarke, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath, Brad Hodge, Brett Lee.
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