Waugh has been on a back-slapping tour of Australia's major cricket venues this past month since announcing that his 168th Test on his home-town pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground would be his last.

The scene could hardly be better scripted. The series is locked at one-all after Australia's recovery from losing the second Adelaide Test to conclusively beat the Indians by nine wickets in Melbourne last Tuesday.

Now all is set for what is the final Test match of the second-highest Test run-scorer, the second-greatest century-maker and the most successful captain with 41 victories from 56 matches.

There have been times in this series against a very good Indian team that the emotional part of Waugh's farewell tour may have distracted Australia against the concerted challenge of Saurav Ganguly's tourists.

But with his teammates and a nation of cricket fans pulling for him, Waugh has reached the final stage of a remarkable 18-year Test career characterised by milestones and raw grit.

Many are hoping Waugh's farewell fares considerably better than the great Don Bradman.

Bradman strode to the crease at The Oval in 1948 for his last Test innings against England needing only four runs for an average of 100, yet was bowled by Eric Hollies for a duck.

Waugh has to juggle the delicate balance of playing in his final Test before family, friends and fans, while keeping his mind on plotting victory over India which will give Australia a series victory and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

"I'm just going to try and enjoy it. I know it's going to be difficult at times with a lot on, but these things only happen once in your life and I want to make it a positive experience as I can," Waugh said ahead of what will become known as Waugh's Last Test.

Waugh, who received applause from spectators before and after his final practice session at the SCG on Thursday, said there was no sadness going into his last Test match wearing his beloved Baggy Green cap.

"There's no real sadness there," said Waugh. "I don't feel it's a sad occasion. I just feel I'm lucky I've played a lot for Australia. I look at others who never get to play a Test match, and I've played 168.

"I can't be sad about that fact. I've been lucky to play a lot of matches.

"I've had great experiences around the world, played against great players, met a lot of fantastic people, seen different cultures ... there's nothing to be sad about."

Among the milestones, perhaps just out of his reach, are 368 runs to overtake compatriot Allan Border and become Test cricket's highest run-scorer.

Waugh also needs 193 runs to become only the second player in history (with Border) to score 11,000 Test runs.

TEAMS

AUSTRALIA (from): Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Steve Waugh (captain), Simon Katich, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Andy Bichel, Nathan Bracken, Brad Williams, Stuart MacGill.

INDIA (from): Akash Chopra, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly (captain), VVS Laxman, Parthiv Patel, Agit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Irfan Pathan, Ashish Nehra, Murali Kartik, Lakshmipathy Balaji.