Australia's need for speed via the recall of fast bowler Brett Lee has gained extra urgency with England unleashing one of limited-overs cricket's most imposing batting performances to firm as te-series favourite.
England compiled the second-highest total in one-day history (4-391) against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge, and came within a whisker of achieving one of Australia's cherished goals - to become the first team to score 400 in a limited-overs international.
England's 168-run win propelled them 12 points clear at the head of the tri-series table, leaving Australia and Bangladesh to fight out the other berth in the final at Lord's on Saturday week.
And if Australia hopes to avoid further embarrassment by securing a spot in the play-off, it must make an appearance on the winner's list beginning with today's match against England at Chester-Le-Street.
The chances of Lee, Australia's best-performed one-day bowler of the past year, returning to face England improved yesterday when the 28-year-old completed an exhaustive fitness assessment at county Durham's Riverside Stadium.
Lee had not bowled since experiencing pain in his right shoulder during the match against Somerset a week ago yesterday.
A blow to the shoulder courtesy of a short-pitched delivery from England's Andy Flintoff 10 days ago stirred up an old injury but he was cleared of any structural damage to the joint.
After some half-pace warm-up work yesterday, Lee launched himself into an impressive spell on a green practice wicket and generated genuine pace, occasionally getting the ball to steeple through to Brad Haddin behind the stumps.
Australian team physiotherapist Errol Alcott said both he and Lee were delighted with yesterday's hit-out, but a final decision would not be made on Lee's availability until after he had cooled down following a subsequent training run.
"He trained really well, we're very happy with his progress," Alcott said.
"It was a bit structured to start with but then we decided to let him loose and then he bowled five overs off his long run."
The only Australian absent from yesterday's long but enthusiastic session was veteran quick Glenn McGrath, who has a build-up of fluid on his right knee following a fielding mishap during last Sunday's loss to England in Bristol.
The Australians will encounter an England team at the peak of its playing powers and confidence after openers Andrew Strauss (152) and Marcus Trescothick (85) blasted an opening stand of 141, followed by Paul Collingwood's 112 off 86 balls.
Collingwood, who three years ago was plying his trade as a club cricketer for Richmond in Melbourne's grade competition, then went on to complete the greatest all-round performance in limited-overs history by bagging 6-31.
Almost as remarkable was the fact England posted its score (just seven runs shy of Sri Lanka's record set against Kenya at the 1996 World Cup) without a contribution from last Sunday's six-hitting hero, Kevin Pietersen.
Pietersen did not get to bat in England's run glut, but the Australians believe they have worked out a few plans for the 24-year-old South African-born Englishman for the remainder of the summer.
Australian batsman Michael Hussey who, as captain of Durham when not on international duties, claimed yesterday that Ricky Ponting's team had made a few mental notes while Pietersen was flaying the attack in Bristol.
"That was sensational the other day, some of the cleanest hitting I have seen," said Hussey, whose knowledge of conditions in Durham should help Ponting avoid the mistake he made at the toss against Bangladesh last Saturday.
"We picked up a bit of where he (Pietersen) likes to go, so we can try and subtlety change our plans and bowl in different spots and get him hitting to the areas we want him to hit," Hussey said.
"Hopefully we can control him in that manner.
"When he's going and hitting the ball cleanly he's very difficult to stop.
"But this ground (Chester-Le-Street) is a bit bigger, so hopefully that will be a bit of an advantage for us.
"Maybe he might think he has to hit the ball a bit harder and it might fall a bit short."
- ANDREW RAMSEY