West Indies big guns are set to give Australia a crucial test as the sides ramp up preparations for the T20 World Cup.
Star talents Jason Holder, Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell are among those joining the Caribbean side for the three-game series, beginninng in Hobart on Friday night.
It’s one of six straight T20s the Australians play in coming weeks, heading to New Zealand for another series, before individuals take part in the IPL between March and May.
Australia expect a much fiercer test from the tourists in the shorter format, after flogging them 3-0 in ODI action.
"They've got world-class players coming back," middle-order batter Matthew Wade said.
"If you look through their line-up, there's guys that have done well in franchise cricket over a long period of time.
“They're a completely different beast in T20s, that's kind of where they've made their name a lot of these guys in the last four or five years.
"It's exciting to get the boys back together leading into a World Cup. It's important for us to start to get our combinations together.
"(We will) continue to create bonds and try and win games ... we'll find out a lot about a few guys pushing to make the (squad)."
Batting duo Steve Smith and Travis Head plus quicks Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will sit out the West Indies clashes before joining the NZ tour.
Nathan Ellis will miss Friday’s game with a rib injury, while captain Mitch Marsh will still lead the side despite having COVID-19.
"It's just the nature of the beast these days," Wade said.
"He (Marsh) got crook yesterday, he's rested enough to train today, and we're expecting him to play.
"We just deal with it like everyone has been over the last two or three years."
Holder and Kyle Mayers return to the West Inndies side after excluding themselves from the Test matches in Australia to play franchise T20s.
Just six players from the whitewashed ODI team and two from the Test side are in the 15-man T20 squad.
It is a vital preparation for the squad as they get ready for a home T20 World Cup in June.
