After ending the Test series 1-1, home skipper Ricky Ponting wants a winning start to the one-day competition that also includes Zimbabwe.

Australia's squad includes one-day specialists Ian Harvey, Michael Bevan, Andrew Symonds and Brad Hogg.

"They inject a little bit more life into it and I'll be asking them to do that here," Ponting commented.

He will lead the team at the Melbourne Cricket Ground despite suffering from a virus which prompted team officials to delay his journey from Sydney to Melbourne for 24 hours.

Ponting is not the only player who is feeling the effects of the Tests.

Pace bowler Brett Lee struggled to rediscover his normal potency following an injury lay-off, taking eight wickets in two games at a cost of 59 runs each.

But Ponting expects him to have an important say in the outcome of the tri-series which will culminate in a best-of-three final next month.

"I thought he bowled pretty well with the new ball on a couple of occasions, got a couple of wickets off no-balls, had a couple of catches put down.

"I'm sure with a few days rest and a bit more bowling under his belt in the next couple of weeks, you'll see him come back to his best."

Indian vice-captain Rahul Dravid is expected to take over the wicket-keeping duties from Parthiv Patel.

Skipper Saurav Ganguly said, however, that all 15 players were in contention to play in the opening game.

They are not at full strength with Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan having flown home because of injuries and Mohammad Kaif unable to make the trip.

It means Rohan Gavaskar, son of Indian legend Sunil, and exciting newcomer Irfan Pathan can expect opportunities to make a name for themselves.

"Rohan knows there is big difference between state and international cricket and he wants to improve," said Ganguly.

"He is a far more attacking player than his dad and bats left-handed. If he does well he could go places."

India will rely heavily on their batsmen and Sachin Tendulkar, the highest scorer in one-day history, should be in prime form following his double century in the Sydney Test.

"It is easier to adjust from Test to one-day (cricket) than the other way round," Ganguly added.

"We need to carry on the good work of the Test series."

SQUADS

AUSTRALIA (from): Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Michael Bevan, Andy Bichel, Michael Clarke, Jason Gillespie, Ian Harvey, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Brad Williams.

INDIA (from): Saurav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Vangipurappu Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Rohan Gavaskar, Parthiv Patel, Ajit Agarkar, Ashish Nehra, Murali Kartik, Anil Kumble, Irfan Pathan, Ashish Nehra, Hemang Badani, Lakshmipathi Balaji.