Even as the young India and Australia turks got ready for an explosive contest of Twenty20 at the MCG on Friday, two players who can make a significant difference despite being on the wrong side of their 30s are still to make a decision on whether they will play.

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting is nursing a sore back and keeping his fingers crossed till the start of the much-awaited game here, while master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is yet to take a call on making the Indian XI. Tendulkar has no fitness worries, but may still not walk out at the MCG on Friday.

There's a school of thought in the Indian team that Tendulkar should be saved for the more important matches of the tri-series while some are keen on him to play to lend the side the much-needed balance.

Tendulkar himself appeared hungry as he spent almost an hour batting against a bowling machine at the MCG in the morning. Coach Gary Kirsten advised Sachin on his off-side strokeplay and later fed balls to the bowling machine as the little champion batted with all seriousness, sweating hard.

The unavailability of Yuvraj Singh has come as a big setback, as skipper MS Dhoni himself said. "Yuvraj has been our master batsman and his absence is a setback for us." Dhoni also talked about creating a balance and playing with pluck and hoping for luck. "You have to create balance in the team and I am the guy who doesn't believe in the laurels of the past."

Then again, Dhoni wasn't forthcoming on Tendulkar. "We have a team meeting tomorrow (Friday). We will decide on the composition only before the game," he said.

Australian captain Ponting, on the other hand, was more than keen to make the side.