The triangular one-day series between Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka starts on Friday, with all three teams keen to prove a point after recent losses.
Australia hold a big lead over their rivals at the top of the world rankings but lost their most recent match against New Zealand when the Kiwis successfully chased down a world record 332 to win.
South Africa are second in the rankings but desperate for a win after losing their recent Test series 2-0 to Australia then being thumped in their Twenty20 match.
Sri Lanka won their last game against New Zealand a week ago but that win came after three defeats in a row against the Black Caps.
They suffered an embarrassing loss in a practice match against Victoria state on Wednesday and need to start winning soon if they want to qualify for this year's Champions Trophy.
Only the top six teams on the rankings qualify automatically for the Champions Trophy, to be held in India in October and November. The remaining teams have to go through a qualifying tournament.
HEAVY FAVOURITES
Australia and South Africa are already assured of their places but Sri Lanka will need to win at least half of their matches to lift themselves from seventh place and above England into sixth.
Australia, winners of the past two World Cups, will be heavy favourites to win the series on home soil. They currently boast the world's top-two ranked one-day batsmen in Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist, and have five in the top 20.
The South Africans have three batsmen in the top 20, including skipper Graeme Smith who is third. The only Sri Lankan batsman in the top 20 is their wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara, who is eighth.
Australia also boast the top two bowlers in Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee while South Africa's Shaun Pollock is third and Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan fourth.
The competition starts on Friday when Australia play Sri Lanka at Melbourne's Dockland Stadium. The Melbourne Cricket Ground is unavailable because it is being refurbished for the Commonwealth Games, starting in March.
The three teams will play each other four times over 12 matches in a whirlwind series played at all the major Australian grounds with the top two advancing to a best-of-three final series in February.
