The retirements of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer have added an emotional incentive to Australia's bid to win the fifth Ashes Test against England, starting at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
Ricky Ponting's Australians were already salivating at the prospect of a rare 5-0 series sweep, but the departure of three of their greatest players has only increased their determination.
Australia's only previous whitewash against their oldest rivals was back in 1920-21 and Ponting said there could be no better way to farewell their famous trio than by emulating that feat in Sydney.
"There's a lot riding on this game with all the retirements and the possibility of a 5-0 result," Ponting told a news conference after training on Monday.
"It's a big game for Australian cricket but we won't be focussed on the result, we'll be focussed on playing well throughout the game.
"That's what we've done all summer and if it means we end up winning the game then it's going to be a perfect scenario for all these guys."
Australia easily won the first four Tests of the series, including last week's fourth Test in Melbourne by an innings inside three days, to regain the Ashes in emphatic style.
The odds are heavily stacked in their favour to win in Sydney as long as the weather stays fine and the players do not become too distracted by the party atmosphere surrounding the mass farewells.
EMOTIONAL MATCH
Former captain Steve Waugh's retirement against India three years ago was tinged with disappointment when the match ended in a draw while another ex-skipper Mark Taylor made just four runs in his farewell against England eight years ago.
"It's going to be an emotional Test match with these three guys going, but I don't think that will effect us," Ponting said.
"We had a big build-up for the last match in Melbourne and it didn't effect us down there.
"We had a good training session today and as long as we keep our emotions in check I'm sure our performance will look after itself."
This week's Test marks the end of an era in Australian cricket and has evoked concerns of a repeat of the bleak years that followed the simultaneous retirements of Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh from the SCG 23 years ago.
But McGrath said the trio were all leaving confident in the knowledge that Australian cricket was in safe hands and the stage was set for their perfect farewell.
"Both Shane and Justin are two blokes I've played most of my career with so it's like losing part of the family," McGrath said.
"To finish off 5-0 would be a perfect way for Shane, myself and Justin to finish and a true indication of where the teams are and how the series has been."
Australia spurned the chance to call up SCG specialist Stuart MacGill by retaining the same side that won in Melbourne but England are considering calling up Middlesex off-spinner Jamie Dalrymple to join Monty Panesar in a twin-spin attack.
England captain Andrew Flintoff said the tourists would wait until the morning of the match before finalising their team but were desperate to avoid losing again.
"It's disappointing the way the Ashes have gone but the mood is positive," he said.
"It's Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer's last Test match so that is another incentive to do well against legends of the game, but most importantly we don't want to go down 5-0.
"One of England's strengths is we always come back from these sort of situations. As a team we're still very positive, there is still plenty of energy in the camp and we're still upbeat about the next game coming up."
