What's at stake?
This is one of too many tournaments on the cricket calendar but nonetheless holds significant value as all three teams prepare for the fast-approaching World Cup.
There's also a score to settle for the Proteas, who suffered a crushing home Test series defeat against Australia early this year.
Having not played an ODI since January, Australia - the world's No.1 ranked ODI team - will take pretty much a full-strength squad - an indication the team won't hold back.
Zimbabwe a pushover?
The theory is, the shorter the format the smaller the gap between teams, but that has not applied in Zimbabwe's case recently.
Under the reign of new captain, all-rounder Elton Chigumbura, Zimbabwe is struggling to compete in the current three-match series against the Proteas, having been blown away in the opening match.
A revolving door at the top of the batting order has not helped , nor has the fact Zimbabwe Cricket has been in disarray for more than 12 months, with player strikes and financial trouble a constant distraction.
Nevertheless, stocky left-arm paceman Brian Vitori could be a player to watch.
A chronic ankle injury has troubled him for 12 months, but when fit, the 24-year-old has lively pace and swings the ball into the right-hander with good effect.
Brian Vitori, 24, can swing the ball into the right-hander and away from the left-hander at decent pace. Photo: Getty
South Africa wants Australia's scalp
The Proteas will send a full-strength squad, but enter the tournament as second favourites behind the Aussies.
Forced into a partial re-build following the retirements of Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis, South Africa has filled the void thanks to senior players such as Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla finding yet another gear.Frontline bowlers Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel were all rested for the current series against Zimbabwe, but will be hungry for Aussie blood.
Faf du Plessis, 30, has played 48 ODIs and averages 28.31 with the bat. Photo: Getty
Bowling Australia's weapon
Australia has plenty of pace bowling options including Ben Cutting and Kane Richardson, along with the left-armers Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and James Faulkner.
Can Johnson resume his world-beating 2013/14 form? It's probably the most intriguing question of the series.
The depth is so good that there was no place in the 14-man squad for Australia's highest-ranked ODI bowler, Clint McKay, whose speed has dipped over the past 12 months. Nathan Coulter-Nile (hamstring surgery) is also missing.
Test specialist Nathan Lyon is the chief spinner, with all-rounder Glenn Maxwell the main alternative.
The batting, Hughes might have to keep waiting
Australia's limited overs kingpin David Warner will stay home to prepare for the birth of his first child. The Aussies will also be without experienced overseas performer Shane Watson (ankle).
That's provided another golden chance for fringe batsman Phil Hughes to embed himself in the national team.
However coach Darren Lehmann has hinted that Hughes may serve as a benchwarmer, at least for the opening games.
Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke appear the likely top-three combination, with George Bailey and Steve Smith to follow.
South Australia's Phil Hughes was originally left out of Australia's 14-man squad, but won a call-up when Shane Watson was injured. Photo: Getty
Pitches and weather
As with most modern one-day pitches, the wickets are expected to favour batting.
All eight games are at Harare Sports Ground, so the pitches might offer some bounce in the opening matches before flattening into dusty spinner's decks later on.
When and where: The cramped schedule starts
The Australians depart Wednesday for their first international matches in nearly five months, and the one-day tri-series begins a cramped summer schedule.
Australia plays four matches, starting with the series opener against Zimbabwe on August 25, and potentially the tournament's final on September 6.
A tour of Pakistan follows during September and October, with one T20, three ODIs and two Tests scheduled.
After that, Michael Clarke's side will play at least nine ODIs in Australia, against England, India and South Africa, as a lead-up to the World Cup, which starts on February 14.
India is the only team playing Tests in Australia this summer and the first of four will begin at the Gabba on December 4.
Quotes
Lehmann says Australia deserved it's unusually long winter break, but now it's time to head back to work.
"Professionally, everyone was tired - coaches were tired, players were very tired, and they did an amazing amount of work in 12 months So to get a break before we go on the road for two years was pretty important.
"We're going to be a bit rusty with the skills, but that's okay. We're gonna make mistakes, but that's okay. What we need to do is build and build and build to become a better Test side, a better one-day side, a better Twenty20 side."
Triangular ODI series preview: Aussies take on South Africa, Zimbabwe
