Nathan Lyon has dismissed any suggestion Australia's World Test Championship preparations will be hurt by the Ashes, labelling the clash with India as the team's grand final.
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Australia's looming five-Test series against England has dominated headlines for the past two months, as the visitors attempt to win the Ashes on foreign soil for the first time in 22 years.
But the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India has thrown something of a spanner in the works.
The scheduling of the match at The Oval has meant there are no official warm-up games for the tour, with the final taking up the only space in Australia's schedule between the IPL and the first Ashes Test.
The players, however, are adamant the India clash is far more than just a lead-in game.
Australia were denied the chance to play in the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2021, missing out on the decider courtesy of an over-rates penalty the previous summer.
They have spent the past two years putting an emphasis on qualifying for the showpiece game, which begins on June 7, and will treat it as every bit as important as the Ashes.
"Yes, we are playing the Ashes but we've got a big game that we're up for," Lyon told AAP.
"This is our grand final, and then our season basically starts again.
"That's probably where we're quite happy with where we're at with our planning. We are able to understand what we've got around the corner, and be OK.
"It's exciting to be part of the final and the fanfare and stuff around it, it's bloody special.
"I know every Australian fan is looking forward to the Ashes, and so they should be. But they should also be excited about this match."
Australia have begun their preparations for the India clash in Kent, to the south of London, in recent days and will have their first proper look at The Oval on Sunday.
Players are expecting a flat wicket for Wednesday's match based on what they have seen out of Surrey's games so far during the County Championship.
That will mark a stark difference to this year's series in India, where the first three Tests on raging turners failed to go beyond the second session of day three.
"You can wipe off anything that happened in India," Lyon said.
"Both teams are really well rounded in their squads. It is going to be a really good challenge.
"India obviously have some class batters but they have some class fast bowlers as well. It's going to be a good challenge.
"Both squads going at it and competing for one game, it's going to be a really good challenge.
"It's a fresh start. I'm looking forward to it."
Australian Associated Press
