MUMBAI, Oct 31: Australia are banking on Sachin Tendulkar feeling the strain on his home ground, as they gear up for Saturday’s one-day tri-series clash against India.

“I feel he will be under a bit of pressure playing at his home ground,” Australian captain Ricky Ponting said on Friday. “From my experience of playing at home, I can say it tends to get a little daunting.”

Australia could use all the luck they can muster against a player considered the world’s premier batsman and, above all, the tourists will be hoping to trap him before he gets into his stride.

“Tendulkar has made a lot of runs against us and we do hope to get him early,” Ponting said.

Tendulkar hammered his 35th one-day hundred to help India beat Australia by 37 runs at Gwalior on Sunday going some way to avenging the World Cup final defeat in March.

The world champions quickly bounced back from that defeat by crushing New Zealand by eight wickets on Wednesday after their second string pacemen Brad Williams and Nathan Bracken shared seven wickets to skittle the Kiwis for 97.

The team winning the toss is likely to bat first in the day-night encounter as the pitch tends to slow down, making strokeplay difficult for the chasing team.

Australia were boosted on Friday after paceman Michael Kasprowicz showed signs of recovery from a hip strain.

He came through a bowl at the nets without much problem and was on target to play the Nov 9 group game against New Zealand, the team’s media manager Jonathan Rose said.

India’s stand-in captain Rahul Dravid warned his team against taking Australia lightly after their Faridabad display, although Tendulkar and Vangipurappu Laxman, who made 102, had dominated Williams and Bracken in Gwalior with a 191-run partnership.

“They showed in Faridabad, when conditions suit them, they are a talented bunch of bowlers,” he said. “I never underestimate any Australian side even if they are without a couple of their key players.”

Dravid said Indian bowlers had their task cut out against the dangerous opening pair of Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden.

In Gwalior, they kept their team on course for an easy win, raising 132 runs together, before Gilchrist’s dismissal for 83 triggered a batting collapse.

Dravid said Australia were expected to target Tendulkar, but hoped the Bombay crowd would boost their favourite player.

After two games apiece, India lead the table with eight points, Australia are on seven and New Zealand on three.—Reuters