First Test: India v Australia Venue: Mohali Starts: Friday 0500 BST
Coverage: Live scorecard on BBC Sport website, plus daily reports
 India will be keen to have their best spinner Harbhajan available
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Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is doubtful for the first of India's two home Tests against Australia, starting on Friday.
The leading active Test wicket-taker has an ankle injury and may not be available for the match in Mohali.
Harbhajan, 30, has dismissed Australia skipper Ricky Ponting a record 10 times in Tests.
But Ponting said: "India might be trying to put a smokescreen and they still have spinners like Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha to take his place."
The two-match series will be closely monitored by England supporters, given that these are the last two Tests Australia will play before the Ashes, which start in Brisbane on 25 November.
Australia have selection issues to address. They will want to assess the performances of fast bowler Doug Bollinger and left-handed batsman Michael Hussey, whose preparation has been rushed after their last-minute dash to India from the Champions League in South Africa.
Assuming those two important players are deemed fit for selection, the only change from the team that lost to Pakistan at Headingley in July is likely to be the inclusion of Nathan Hauritz, who has recovered from his foot injury, at the expense of Steven Smith.
If Harbhajan does not make the cut, Ojha will assume the role of lead spinner, and Mohali's seamer-friendly reputation gives Sreesanth an opportunity to make the final XI as the third fast bowler, ahead of leg-spinner Mishra.
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The batting line-up includes a vastly experienced quartet in Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman.
India are the holders of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after their 2-0 win two years ago, when Australia were still the number one Test nation.
India captain Mharendra Dhoni's men are now at the top of the list, while the Australians, who have slipped to fourth, will fall to fifth and begin the Ashes ranked lower than England if they lose this series.
Ponting added: "We want to make sure that we start the game well and get our plans right. We are pretty confident that we will have a good start.
"India are tough opponents and playing them often is a great thing for the game and great for both countries."
Dhoni stated: "The boys know exactly what to expect, but the strategies are decided only after analysing the conditions.
"Test cricket is about doing well in sessions. The team that wins more sessions in the last couple of days when the ball turns and bounces and there is reverse swing, is often the deciding factor."
The normally quick surface at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium is expected to play a little slower than usual due to rain during the build-up.
India (from): Mahendra Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Shantakumaran Sreesanth, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Cheteswar Pujara, Murali Vijay.
Australia (from): Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Philip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Marcus North, Doug Bollinger, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Johnson, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Peter George, Nathan Hauritz, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc.
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