THREE years ago, Australia skipper Ricky Ponting jetted to South Africa worried about the absence of top fast bowler Glenn McGrath, who stayed at home to look after his sick wife Jane.
Some questioned how Australia would fare without their No.1 strike weapon.
Doomsayers were wrong - Australia ran to a 3-0 Test whitewash, quick Stuart Clark the new star with 20 wickets at 15.85.
Fast forward to 2009 and a new-look Australia side - facing enormous scrutiny after a woeful home summer - is again off to the Rainbow Nation with doubt a'plenty.
The tour, where Ponting again battles with opposite number Graeme Smith, will show much about Australia's cricket health.
Another poor series will spell serious trouble for their Ashes defence this winter but it could also be the dawn of a new era if fresh faces like Phillip Hughes, Peter Siddle and Andrew McDonald can fire.
The squad can be split in four categories:
THE BANKERS
Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich. The blue-chip commodities who must perform if Australia are to turn around their dreadful summer.
Allan Border Medal winners Ponting and Clarke both need to have 300-run Test series and Katich must continue his renaissance and help new kid Phil Hughes.
Johnson, Australia's outstanding player of the last 12 months, must show he is not a one-trick pony and perform in Test matches away from home. He didn't have the best series in his first overseas assignment against the West Indies last year and has to replicate Clark's 2006 deeds.
UNDER PRESSURE
Mike Hussey, Nathan Hauritz and Ben Hilfenhaus. Who would have thought Hussey would have had such a bleak Test match summer?
Australia's middle-order troubleshooter looked like he was plagued by self-doubt as he eked out 85 runs at 17 in three Tests against South Africa. Hussey returned to form in the one-dayers but needs Test runs to show he isn't fading.
Hauritz somehow kept his spot but will almost certainly be peeling oranges unless leg spinner Bryce McGain struggles. Hilfenhaus looked like a world-beater several years ago, but appears to have lost his mojo and is lucky to be on the plane.
MUST IMPROVE
Brad Haddin, Andrew McDonald.
Haddin has showed encouraging signs he can be Adam Gilchrist's long-term Test replacement, but there are still some nagging doubts about his reliability. He needs at least one big innings with the bat and several solid contributions when Australia find themselves in trouble.
Haddin's wicketkeeping this summer was patchy and he must improve as Australia are now in an era where every catch is vital.
There are big wraps on McDonald but we didn't see him at his best in his Test debut in Sydney and he must quickly bridge the gap between potential and performance.
THE WILD CARDS
Phillip Hughes, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger, Bryce McGain, Marcus North.
Arguably the most important group of players as their form will go a long way to deciding the series. All have enormous talent but none (perhaps apart from Siddle, who played in India last year) has faced such a pressure-cooker assignment.
Will nerves destroy them or will they stand up and become Australia's exciting new generation of stars? Hughes, 20, looks the goods after an astonishing start.
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