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MELBOURNE, Feb 6 - THE Sri Lankan cricketers, when they take the field against Australia in a day game at the MCG, must do so with determination to beat them, and beat them convincingly in their final appearance in Australia.

If the Lankans can do this, and we see no reasons why they can't, then it will sweet revenge for all that they have been made to suffer on this tour, which to say the least has been a cricketing nightmare.

That the Lankans could not make it to the best of three finals in the Carlton and United Series was due to their own making. They could easily have booked a berth in the finals, had they grabbed the opportunities that came their way and dominated some of the games they just threw away lacking imagination and purpose.

True they were unsettled by unsporty tactics against them by the media and the drunken louts at each venue of play, who booed and called the Lankans names. But they could slapped back and silenced their critics had they performed as we know they could.

But now there is no use in crying over spilt milk. If the Lankans could bash the Aussies in this game, they would gain some lost prestige and also delight the large circle of Sri Lankans domiciled here who have backed them and supported them at all venues they played.

The Lankans are without their best batsman Sanath Jayasuriya and their best bowler Muthiah Muralitharan. Jayasuriya has had a successful operation on his left wrist and his surgeons have told him that he should be back in business in a few weeks.

Muralitharan who suffered a groin injury during the game against Australia in Perth and skipped the game in Sydney against England which Sri Lanka won, is not likely to play and is down to have an operation on his bowling shoulder on Monday here in Melbourne.

In addition to missing these two, alrounder Pramodaya Wickremasinghe is also down with 'flu' and whether he will play or not will depend on the morning of the match. Sri Lankans have only 12 fit players to choose from.

As for the Aussies who are on a roll, they will want to win and face England in the best of three finals with full of confidence. They will want to play McGrath whom they rested against England, because he is their spearhead. He is sure to use his unsettling tactics by bouncing at the Lankan batsmen. But if the batsmen play him by getting into line and hooking and pulling him, he should not pose a threat.

Another interesting aspect in this game will be the duel between leg spinner Shane Warne and Arjuna Ranatunga. Ranatunga has always been severe on Warne hitting him all over the place and it should be no different this time round. Aravinda de Silva too will want to flay Warne.

Here's hoping then that the Lankans will stuff the Kangaroos and take with them fond memories in their final appearance in Australia, which tour they will all want to soon forget.