Paceman Peter Siddle is confident skipper Michael Clarke can shrug off a back complaint to bat in Australia’s second innings in the third Test against India on Monday.
Australia are 3-75 and need another 16 runs to make India bat again.
Even a face-saving draw would provide no comfort to the tourists who must win in Mohali and also in the fourth Test in Delhi to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Team physio Alex Kountouris says Clarke’s fitness will be assessed on Monday.
However Siddle – who claimed 5-71 in India’s first innings of 499 – has no doubt the skipper will get off the rub-down table to lead his side into battle.
“He’ll definitely bat. It was very sore throughout the day,” Siddle said.
“He got some treatment after we came off the field and everything seems to be going along fine.
“Knowing Michael he’ll do everything he can tonight with Alex and be ready to go tomorrow morning.”
Clarke was off and on the field during India’s first innings on Sunday. Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin led the side in the absence of the skipper and vice-captain Shane Watson, who has been suspended for one match.
“You never want to see your mate in pain or hurting or going off the field and getting treatment, but the boys stuck at it well,” Siddle said.
“Hadds took control out there when he was off the field and did a good job and the boys kept going about their business.”
But the Aussies spun out of control with the bat as David Warner (two), Ed Cowan (eight) and Steve Smith (five) all fell cheaply to medium-pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Phil Hughes played a fine counter-attacking knock of 53 not out.
Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon is on four.
“We know that a draw doesn’t help us at all. But we’ll do everything we can to see where we can get,” Siddle said.
“It will be hard for us to win.
“But we just have to see where we end up.”
Earlier, India claimed a first-innings lead of 91 after tea with a total of 499.
Shikhar Dhawan (187) and Murali Vijay (153) hit centuries in a 289-run stand, having resumed on Sunday on 0-283.
Apart from the openers, Sachin Tendulkar (37) and Virat Kohli (67 not out) were the only batsmen to pass 20.
