Any thoughts that Michael Clarke would not be in the right frame of mind for the opening Test against New Zealand were quickly put to rest when he smashed a century and put his side into a commanding position at stumps on the first day at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
Clarke, fresh from a hellish fortnight of off-field dramas in Australia, did not allow the New Zealand crowd the satisfaction of failing with the bat and instead notched an unbeaten 100 to help his side to 4-316.
Clarke, with help from the powerful hitting of Marcus North (52 not out), got the tourists out of an uncomfortable position when they were sitting on 4-176.
The pair forged an unbeaten 140-run partnership to put the visiting side in control of the match.
Earlier, Clarke and Simon Katich (79) saw off the New Zealand bowling attack in style, with the latter looking strong for majority of the first day, reaching his 21st half-century before being trapped lbw by Kiwi debutant Brent Arnel (2-70).
Daryl Tuffey bowled extremely well for New Zealand and, while he failed to claim a wicket, gave away just 35 runs off his 16 overs.
However, it was Arnel that proved the most destructive of the Kiwi bowlers as he claimed openers Katich and Phil Hughes.
At the start of the day, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting won the toss chose to bat.
But after a belting start, the first wicket fell relatively early.
First to go was Phil Hughes who, as a late replacement for the injured Shane Watson, came out firing on all cylinders before Northern Districts' seamer Arnel struck to end his innings on 20.
With Katich taking it slow down one end, Ponting kept the run rate ticking over for Australia to hit the sheds at lunch sitting on 1-93.
The captain did not last too much longer, however, when he was run out by BJ Watling on 41, bringing Mike Hussey out onto the crease.
Hussey never looked settled and was soon caught by Watling for four runs off Chris Martin's bowling, leaving Australia looking a little vulnerable on 3-115.
But Katich, along with Clarke, stabilised the innings and notched his 50 off 132 balls.
After Katich's dismissal, Clarke took the reins and claimed his 14th Test century off 141 balls, hitting 10 fours and two sixes.
Disaster had struck Australia before play even started when Watson was ruled out of the Test at the last minute when he aggravate a hip injury he picked up in the fourth ODI match while warming up.
On a more positive note for the tourists, seamer Ryan Harris overcame a side strain to make his Test match debut. Clint McKay was named as 12th man.