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Brisbane: The second leg of an Ashes double-header unique in the 131 years of such contests gets underway in Brisbane on Thursday with everything bar the eternal optimism of the Australian nation pointing to a fourth successive England triumph.
With the dominant 3-0 success on home soil still fresh in the memory, England can justifiably approach a trip Down Under with more confidence than at any time since the 1970s, when World Series cricket tore the heart out of the home side.
The core of an England side unbeaten in Tests this year has very happy memories of their last trip in 2010-11, when they hammered Australia 3-1 to win the Ashes on foreign soil for the first time in 24 years.
That feeling has been compounded by the conviction that they won in England with something to spare and their vaunted batting line-up can only do better than they did in the five home Tests.
And yet, despite losing seven of their last nine tests and drawing the other two, there is also a growing feeling of confidence in Australia.
The hosts feel the series in England was closer than the scoreline suggested, their batting line-up is more settled than it has been for a while and that if their quick bowlers can fire on the hard home decks, they can really trouble England.
There was little chance that their preparations for the second series could be disrupted as much as those for the first, when coach Mickey Arthur was sacked and opener David Warner was stood down for punching England's Joe Root in a bar.
The excellent bowling performance of Ryan Harris in England was one reason for the growing optimism and the injury-prone paceman articulated the feeling of the Australia camp after the squad was announced for the Gabba.
Australia have been forced by injury to take a gamble on pace bowler Mitchell Johnson recapturing his best form after four years of erratic performances which have made him the favourite target of England's Barmy Army of fans.
In addition, Harris's fragile frame is unlikely to last the full five Tests so Australia will be hoping the recuperation of James Pattinson and Jackson Bird continues to go well.
Meanwhile Australia have chosen one-day skipper George Bailey to make his Test debut aged 31 in the problematic number six batting position.
All-rounder Shane Watson's talent is in no doubt but a hamstring injury has disrupted his preparations and the decision over whether he will be able to bowl in the first Test is likely to be taken on the first morning at the Gabba.
Despite those small flies in the ointment, Australia captain Michael Clarke has been trumpeting the new optimism like a politician on the campaign trail.
On otherhand, England' Jonny Bairstow is on standby should Prior fail to prove his fitness, while opener Michael Carberry looks set to make his Ashes debut at the Gabba with Root moving down to number six in the batting order.
Australia, though, has never been an easy place to tour for any England side.
Australia have not lost on the famously fast, bouncy pitch since 1988, against a Viv Richards-led West Indies, and England's last win there was under Mike Gatting in 1986.
While history favours the hosts, a Brisbane victory by Alastair Cook's England would deal psychological damage to a team trying to rebuild after a long slump.
Teams from:
Australia: Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (Capt.), Steven Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon, James Faulkner
England: Alastair Cook (Capt.), Michael Carberry, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Matt Prior (wk), Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Chris Tremlett, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Steven Finn, Monty Panesar, Boyd Rankin, Ben Stokes
Pitch and conditions
The Gabba pitch is renowned for offering some pace and movement early of the day, before flattening out for the batsmen. The forecast for Thursday is mostly sunny and 30 degree, but all four remaining days show the chance of a storm and showers.
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Match facts
November 21-25, 2013
Start time 1000 local (0000 GMT)
