Australia have made clear their desire to right the wrongs of Gqeberha, with the status of world's best Test team on the line in another potentially era-defining Cape Town clash.
A sold-out crowd is expected for the first three days of the third and deciding Test against South Africa at Newlands, with a series that started with a whimper in Durban now hitting full throttle after the hosts' victory last week.
The Proteas have not suffered a series defeat on home soil since 2020-21, while victory for Australia would set up a big run of away tours to India and England.
Beyond that, South Africa also have a chance to usurp Australia at the top of the Test rankings, and go No.1 for the first time in more than a decade.
Picturesque Newlands has often shaped the face of Australian cricket.
It was there in 2011 that Australia suffered their lowest Test total in more than a century, bowled out for 47 in 18 overs of agony.
In 2014, Australia earned back top spot in the ICC rankings for the first time in almost five years there, when a broken Ryan Harris bowled them to a final-hour victory.
And the return to Cape Town four years later changed Australian cricket forever, with the fallout from the 'sandpapergate' ball-tampering scandal of March 24, 2018 prompting an overhaul of on and off-field leadership.
South Africa have been able to refer to themselves as Test champions for the past 16 months, after beating Australia in last year's final at Lord's.
But Australia have held the mantle of the top-ranked team since April 2024, while also maintaining it for all of 2022 and the first half of 2023 during the Pat Cummins era.
"We really believe in what we can achieve," Alex Carey said.
"And if that's after this Test we're ranked No.1 or we're not, I think we know what we're capable of when we certainly get it right.
"Coming up against South Africa, even if they were the holders of the mace or not, we know they're a really proud cricket team and so are we.
"If we're able to go out there and nail our process, things normally take care of themselves.
"And we know that wasn't the case last Test and we want to right those wrongs."
Australia have not played in a Test decider since the third match of the 2022 series in Pakistan, but the rankings factor has given this week a legitimate grand-final feel.
"Australia for a long period of time have been the No.1 team in the world and a superior team as well," Proteas wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton said.
"For us to even beat them in our conditions is massive for us. If we are to go No.1 in the world, that is great.
"But if we're looking at the bigger picture, we have a full home summer of fixtures and if they go to plan we will be in London in June for the Test championship final."
The make up of Australia's team remains a point of intrigue, well beyond which bowler may miss out should Nathan Lyon return on a drier wicket.
Nic Maddinson is expected to be dropped with a fit-again Cameron Green to return, and Matt Renshaw possibly moving to the top of the order.
Marnus Labuschagne is also at risk of being axed after Australia's innings-and-31-run defeat last week, with Josh Inglis having recovered from a fractured finger.
"We've made it pretty clear it wasn't up to the standards we like to play our game at," Carey said.
"We've reflected, we've spoken about it, and now two days out, we're really honing in our preparations for this Test match.
"Series still on the line, which is really exciting.
"I know as a batting group we’re really keen to get out there and put into action what we've spoken about in the last couple of days and turn that performance around."
