Alyssa Healy has risen magnificently to the many challenges she has faced in her cricket career, so it is fitting that her final ODI series against India will get the competitive juices flowing.
The Australia captain will play the three ODI matches, starting at Allan Border Field on Tuesday, and the one-off Test before retiring.
Healy, who has been integral to Australia's long dominance of international women's cricket, was part of the side that lost last year's World Cup final to India.
She did not play in the recently completed T20 series against the same foes in Australia, which the tourists won 2-1.
Healy said the assignment ahead of Australia was immense but also warned her side would not be taking a backward step. A response is what she is looking for against a tough opponent.
"They're playing some really good cricket. We're being really challenged at the moment and they're full of confidence, as they should be," Healy said.
"They've got a big trophy in their cabinet that they're really proud of and they've got every right to come out here and play the way that they have.
"It's now a challenge for us to bounce back and sort of throw the next punch in this format and say that this is our turf, these are our conditions and this is the way that we play this ODI format. So hopefully we can go out there and do that.
"We know they're a talented side. They are the world champs and probably for the first time for a little while it's an opportunity for us to come hard at them. So I'm looking forward to that."
Australia have said farewell to the greats of women's cricket in recent years with champions such as Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes retiring.
Healy's time is almost up but she is confident her side can transition into more success under new skipper Sophie Molineux and the young brigade coming through, led by players including Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll.
"I mean, when you look at our squad over the last probably five or six years, we've been transitioning naturally anyway. So it's taken place," Healy said.
"I remember the absolute blow-up when we lost a game in India.
"At one point in time, we lost one game out of a six or seven-game series and it was uproar that the Australian team had lost.
"So now to sit back and reflect on losing that first leg of a series, it's actually an opportunity for our side to sit back, reflect, review and go, 'This is how we can be better and continue to challenge what is a really good side'. So I think the future's in great hands.
"I'm looking forward to seeing what this team can offer over the next 10 to 15 years and I've got no doubt that we will bounce back pretty quickly."
