Opener Simon Katich has admitted Australia will face a tough final preparation for this summer's Ashes series when it tours India in October.
Australia's two-Test series against the world's top-ranked team will be their only two five-day games between now and the first Test against England in Brisbane on November 25.
Katich, who returned to Sydney on Monday after Australia drew its Test series against Pakistan 1-1 in England, knows how difficult a tour of India can be after he was a part of the team comfortably beaten in a four-Test series in 2008.
"It will be very tough," Katich said.
"We were there in 2008, lost 2-0 and found it hard work and we are back at two of the venues we were at in 2008."
"There's no doubt they have got a very good side, they love playing at home, they will have their home crowd supporting them."
"We do have obviously quite a few young guys stepping into Test cricket now who haven't played in India before, so that will be a test for them, but it's going to be a good challenge."
Australia handed debuts to wicketkeeper Tim Paine and all-rounder Steven Smith during the series against Pakistan, which finished level after Salman Butt's young side secured a three-wicket win at Headingley on Saturday.
Both performed well in an otherwise disappointing series, especially for the front-line bowlers.
Mitchell Johnson took just three wickets at an average of 72.3 while Doug Bollinger was largely ineffective before he grabbed three wickets on the final day in Leeds to raise hope of an unlikely win.
"I guess the guys probably would have been a little bit disappointed, but they were all trying and you can't fault their efforts," Katich said.
"They all put in and tried their hardest, it just didn't happen, so hopefully they will learn from that and be better for it."
The batsman were not without fault though, with Katich the only Australian to average over 35 in the series.
Australia managed just 88 in the first innings at Headingley - its lowest score in 26 years - as it suffered its first Test defeat in nine games.
"We were always playing catch-up after that (scoring 88). It was a disappointing end to the series," Katich added.
"It's something that we need to work on a rectify going forward and looking to India and later on in the year with the Ashes."