A grand final before the semis

An early grand final, Michael Hussey called this match. A loss won't end the tournament for either side but in a difficult Super Eights group also featuring South Africa and Pakistan, Australia and India are both desperate to begin with a victory. Both teams enter the match with a solid if not spectacular form-line behind them. India accounted for a plucky Afghanistan and then annihilated a lacklustre England in the group stages, while Australia thrashed Ireland and then did enough against a strong West Indies side to be ahead on Duckworth-Lewis when the rain came halfway through their hefty chase.

Australia have had a settled line-up so far in this tournament and that is unlikely to change now. Shane Watson in particular has been outstanding, both with the ball and at the top of the batting order, and has been Man of the Match in both games so far. India's team selections are much less obvious, especially after Virender Sehwag was left out of their second match. Zaheer Khan and R Ashwin also didn't play against England and finding someone to squeeze out of the side after their 90-run win won't be easy. Harbhajan Singh, who didn't play the first game, seems to have cemented his spot with four wickets against England.

The presence of Harbhajan will add an extra dimension to the match. These are teams with a history of fiery clashes, and Harbhajan has often been part of that. However, in recent battles between India and Australia the tensions have faded considerably. Australia's captain George Bailey still expects some verbal stoushes in the heat of a World Twenty20 contest, especially with Harbhajan back and Australia's mouthy opener David Warner unlikely to keep quiet. "We have players who probably engage in some of that and players who don't," Bailey told reporters on Thursday. "You'll find that most of those guys who like to verbal, they instigate it. That's the way they get their juices flowing. It gets them switched on."

Just as long as neither side allows such sideshows to distract them from the main game.

Form guide
(completed matches, most recent first)
Australia WWWLL
India WWLWL