National selector Jamie Cox says it will take a remarkable performance from Australia to win the Test series against India starting in Bangalore tomorrow.
The Indians start the four-match series as favourites to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Cox said that playing in India remained Australia's biggest challenge.
"It's the only tour we still go into as underdogs," he said.
"Regardless of how well we're travelling, it still will be a remarkable performance for us to go over there and win because they are conditions that we just don't see.
"It's very, very tough for us to go over and turn up and be competitive after just one game."
Cox said he also hoped the "niggle" sparked between the two teams during last summer's series in Australia would continue believing it added to the excitement.
"That's adds to the flavour, that actually gets people excited about the cricket," he said.
"I hope it is a really keenly contested series and I'm sure it will be, with just that little bit of aggro, little bit of niggle ... I think that adds to the contest.
"So long as it sticks within the boundaries, and it generally does, it just adds to everything."
