In the worst-case scenario that Michael Clarke broke down on the eve of next year's World Cup, Australia's hopes wouldn't be shot according to his deputy George Bailey.
Clarke's chronic back problem ruled him out of the 2013 Champions Trophy and has contributed to the hamstring injury which so far has him out of the one-day tri-series in Zimbabwe.
Managing the skipper's fitness at 33 years of age remains a concern with a packed schedule ahead.
However, taking over the reins of the Australian side at the drop of a hat has become almost second nature for the calm and collected Bailey over the past couple of years.
To say he was thrown in the deep end during the Champions Trophy would be putting it mildly.
With Clarke forced away from camp to receive treatment, Bailey was left to deal with the fallout from David Warner's bar room dust-up with England rival Joe Root and rising tensions between Shane Watson and doomed coach Mickey Arthur.
Bailey handled matters professionally and learnt "plenty" from that crash course in crisis management, but he isn't willing to divulge much more than that at this stage.
Clarke is a paramount reason why Australia are the No.1 team in ODIs and No.2 in Tests.
But Bailey feels comfortable leading the side in Clarke's absence, and says most importantly the Australian team believe they can still win should injury strike down their skipper.
"I think it's important for our cricket because there was a period there - perhaps not so much in one-day cricket - where we were relying really heavily on his batting," Bailey said.
"So any time we can perform really well as a group without him in the team I think bodes well because we know how strong we're going to be when he does get right and he comes back in.
"That's a real positive for us.
"It's not too much of a stretch (for me) at the moment because everyone is pretty clear on their roles.
"When Pup goes out it becomes a collective group (effort)."
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