Cricket: Ponting has tests firmly in mind

Australia will head into today's final one-dayer with their thoughts as much on the upcoming test match as the prospect of a 5-0 clean sweep.

Already 4-0 up in the series, Australia have decided to use their dominant position to its best advantage and make a head-start on New Zealand in terms of their preparations for the first test starting in Christchurch on Thursday.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting confirmed yesterday that the final decisions on the combination for today's one-dayer would be based on test considerations.

"We've sort of got one eye on the test matches already and have had since the third game was won.

"We've only got one more game to go here then a couple of days before the test players arrive, so it's a natural consideration.

"We're hoping to be able to give the guys who are playing in the test match another bat or another bowl if we can, but we're flexible.

"If they feel they need to play another game and bowl another 10 overs leading into the test, or if they're better having an extra couple of days off ... that's what we'll do."

The slightly longer-term outlook is in stark contrast with the New Zealand camp, who have been pummelled in all but one of the ODIs so far, and dare not look much further ahead than the first ball of today's showdown.

Ponting said he didn't doubt the pressure that was piling up on the home team after the trend so far, and that he wouldn't be surprised if it counted against them in today's match, if not the test series.

"We know that if we play well again tomorrow New Zealand might have some of those psychological things in their head, but that's nothing for us to worry about.

"If you look at the way New Zealand have played after that first game, that's either because of their injuries ... or because they're sort of succumbing to the pressure that we're putting on them.

"You can look at it either way."