Steve Smith has uttered the words that neither New Zealand nor any of Australia's other rivals at the World Cup want to hear: he has found his hands again.
With Travis Head considered a good chance of returning from a fractured hand against the Black Caps on Saturday, Smith is set to drop down to No.4 for the crucial round-robin stage match.
Marcus Stoinis is also a chance to return from calf soreness in Dharamshala, where a win against third-placed New Zealand would put Australia within touching distance of the semi-finals.
Smith admitted earlier this week he was "shocked" by the decision to move him down the order, having been most at home as a first drop in 50-over cricket.
But he will make the shift having rediscovered his form.
Out lbw against South Africa and Pakistan in a run of scores that included a 19, zero and seven early in the World Cup, Smith admitted to "losing his hands" during that period.
Both dismissals came when he was trying to turn the ball down legside.
But the 34-year-old says he has regained his touch after lengthy stints in the nets before his 71 against the Netherlands, where he got his hands higher.
"It's a way I have got out quite a lot through my career," Smith said of the lbws.
"I am OK with it a lot of the time. Just a couple in the last little bit I have felt like I am not getting my hands out enough.
"And (against the Netherlands) you saw a few (times I) got my hands out a fair way in front. I didn't feel threatened at all.
"That comes from getting my bat up higher and getting my hands back through the ball.
"I was a little annoyed that I lost it for a week, but I feel like I am in a good place now."
Smith has previously made similar claims about his batting, usually in the lead up to a run of big scores - including before back-to-back one-day international hundreds against India in November 2020, as well as during the one-day series against England last summer where he averaged 97.5.
The right-hander's form was best on display with a brilliant cover drive off Paul van Meekeren early in his innings against the Dutch, where his hands played through the line of the ball for four.
Smith's case has not been helped during the tournament by inconsistent training wickets, while he also took a blow to his right forearm in the lead up to the Netherlands match.
"Some of the practice facilities have been quite tough," Smith said.
"We haven't had any flat wickets where you just get into a rhythm.
"(Earlier in the week) out the back it was tough, and batting (Tuesday) it was really low. So it was like a couple of different extremes.
"It can be hard for rhythm sometimes, but you just do what you can and get the best you can out of it."
Ashton Agar's hopes of regaining his spot in Australia's white-ball squad for the looming T20 series against India have hit a hurdle after he re-injured his calf.
Agar was a late withdrawal from the World Cup after hurting his calf against South Africa last month.
