Michael Clarke is set to take his most serious step towards the World Cup on Wednesday, when Australia face the United Arab Emirates at the MCG.

All eyes will be on Clarke when he leads Australia during their final warm-up game for the one-day tournament.

“He’s our captain, so it’s great to have him back,” paceman Josh Hazlewood said on Tuesday.

“Hopefully he gets through.”

Clarke batted and bowled against Bangladesh last week while turning out for a Cricket Australia XI.

But Wednesday will be a step up, with coach Darren Lehmann looking for a sprightly show in the field from Clarke.

“He’s trained the house down … now it’s a case of getting up to speed with the fielding and away he goes,” Lehmann told Fox Sports.

Clarke is recovering from hamstring surgery and has been given until February 21, when Australia take on Bangladesh in Brisbane, to prove his fitness for the event.

The 33-year-old is not expected to take part in Saturday’s tournament opener at the MCG against England.

UAE vice-captain Khurram Khan suggested the result didn’t matter on Wednesday, but the way his side plays.

“We have a lot to take from that game,” Khan said.

“It’s a big moment.”

Khan noted his teammates wanted to achieve great things at the event, their second World Cup campaign.

But simply by qualifying for the event, the UAE have achieved much.

“We work 9-5, finish the job and then afterwards head to the stadium,” Khan said.

“Some of us have to drive 100 kilometres to reach the ground where we practice.

“We practice three-or-four hours a day, four-or-five times a week.

“Then we have to drive back home and it’s midnight, you start the day at 6am and do it all again.

“It’s paying off. The performance of the team recently has gone up and up.”