30 January 2005	Sunday	19 Zilhaj 1425

PERTH, Jan 29: Pakistan cricket captain Inzamamul Haq admits his team is still mentally scarred from its massive Test defeat in Perth last month, bolstering Australia's chances of entering one-day tri-series finals unbeaten.

Australia meets Pakistan at the WACA in a day-nighter on Sunday in the world champions' last match before best-of-three finals series starting on Friday at the MCG.

Batsman Damien Martyn and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist are set to return to Australian side after resting for two matches, with Simon Katich and Brad Haddin expected to make way, although the team will not be finalised until Sunday morning.

Australia's opponent in finals won't be determined until Tuesday when Pakistan takes on West Indies at the WACA.

But Aussies will want to win to maintain their aura of invincibility they have built up in the series so far.

Likewise, Inzamam said his side would gain a heavy dose of morale if it beat Australia and that would carry over to Tuesday's match against the Windies and finals series, if it qualified.

"It is an important game for us, because if we win Australia game boys will be really confident and it will help us in the next game," Inzamam said.

"We will try our level best." But he conceded last month's first Test in Perth, which Australia won by a whopping 491 runs, provided a mental hurdle that would be hard to overcome when Pakistan returned to the ground.

It was the beginning of a horror tour for Pakistan, which has gone on to suffer two more Test defeats and lose two one-day matches to Australia since that time.

"Yes, it is really difficult to go back now because so far our performances in Australia are very poor," he said.

"But in the match and training sessions and everything boys are really working hard and trying to do well."

Australian paceman Jason Gillespie welcomed chance to have another crack at Pakistan batsmen on WACA strip.

"The bounce of wicket (is good) and it's just a lovely ground to play cricket on," he said.

"Obviously being a fast bowler and seeing ball carry through like it does to (wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist) is a good feeling."

Pakistan is coming off a deflating loss to West Indies in Adelaide on Friday, with Windies winning by 58 runs on back of Brian Lara's brilliant 156.

Teams:

Australia (from): Ricky Ponting (capt), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Darren Lehmann, Michael Clarke, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Brad Haddin.

Pakistan (from): Inzamamul Haq (capt), Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Yousuf Youhana, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Azhar Mahmood, Rana Navedul-Hasan, Rao Iftikhar, Taufeeq Umar,Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Mohammad Khalil. -Agencies