On the eve of Sunday's first finals, the left-handed batsman was optimistic that the finals would be a cracker.

“It's going to be fantastic. The cricket has been very very competitive throughout the summer — the Test matches and the one-dayers. I expect this final to be no different. I know our guys are a hundred percent ready, focussed and really looking forward to the challenge of playing India. I am sure India would love to leave Australia on a winning note as well,” he told newsmen on Saturday afternoon.

Refusing to read too much into Friday's night defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka, Hussey remarked, “it was disappointing to lose but I don't think losing yesterday will have any bearing tomorrow. It has been difficult conditions in Melbourne the whole series. All teams have struggled with the bat. But looking to our last performance here in Sydney, all the batsmen played particularly well. We'd prefer to concentrate on the positive front rather than looking at the negatives of our batting in Melbourne.”

The last time India and Australia played here, last Sunday, India made 299 chasing Australia's 317 for seven.

“The conditions then were excellent for one-day cricket,” said Hussey, adding that the toss wouldn't necessarily be decisive. “The conditions were pretty even and the best team got up on the day. I am hoping it's going to be the same — conditions will be fair and even and two very good cricket teams can slug it out."

Matthew Hayden, reprimanded for his comments on Harbhajan Singh and rested for the Melbourne defeat, was 'fine,' revealed Hussey. “He did have an interesting time in Melbourne but hopefully all that is behind him now.

Both teams, the Australian public and the Indian public have had enough of the controversies,” Hussey opined.

“It's important that we don't let the distractions play on our mind. If we play on emotions, sometimes those distractions can have a detrimental effect.”

Outlining the importance of the first finals, he went on, “Whoever can get the momentum and the ascendancy has got to be a huge chance to take out the trophy. It will be great to be 1-0 up going into Brisbane. Having said that, if we did happen to drop the first one, we've still got another chance to try and win the series. But yes, the first one is crucial.”