The opening match in the series gets underway at the Gabba here on Thursday and Waugh is planning to play his final game in the last Test in Sydney on January 2-6.

"Stephen holds a very special place and has touched us all personally, in fact he's personally touched the lives of Australians for almost 20 years," Hayden said.

"It is emotional and I think we're looking forward to embracing that emotion and not veering away from it.

"I'm sure Stephen will go through a few ebbs and flows during the summer.

"But in many ways his home Test match in Sydney will be one that all of us will remember. All of us can celebrate the end of a Test legend.

"I'm sure he is capable of going out with a massive bang."

Hayden, the world record holder for most runs in a Test innings after his 380 in Perth against Zimbabwe in October, said while the bouncy Gabba pitch would favour Australia through their familiarity with it, he expected off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to enjoy the conditions.

"Harbhajan will extract a lot of bounce so we've got our work cut out for us," said Hayden.

"They've (India) actually toured considerably better over the last few years.

"They've got some batsman like (Rahul) Dravid who really puts together his game plan on bouncy wickets and they sort of bat around him a bit.

"Then you've got the likes of (Sachin) Tendulkar and (Virender) Sehwag who will no doubt bring crowds to their feet the way they play."

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist missed Australia's training session here Tuesday ahead of the first Test.

Gilchrist was resting with a viral infection, a team spokesman said.

However, team officials believed he would be fit to play in the Test.

Gilchrist was also in doubt through illness before last year's first Ashes Test against England here but recovered in time.

Recuperating fast bowler Brett Lee worked out with the Australians in the nets on Tuesday.

Lee has been sidelined by a stomach muscle strain and ankle surgery but returns to play for New South Wales in a domestic one-day match against Victoria next Sunday.