Seventeen years separated Sri Lanka's first two Test victories over Australia but if the tourists can't find a way to blunt Rangana Herath the third might be little more than a week away.
Sri Lanka produced a huge turnaround in the opening Test in Kandy, defeating Australia by 106 runs after being bowled out for 117 on day one.
That victory was only their second against Australia in 27 Tests between the two countries, their only other a six-wicket triumph in 1999.
As they have done so often in the subcontinent in recent years, Australia succumbed to spin with left-armers Herath and Lakshan Sandakan - on debut - taking 16 wickets between them.
The second Test starts on Thursday in the southern city of Galle, where Sri Lanka can clinch the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy with a win - and they've plenty of reasons to be optimistic they can clinch the three-match series before heading to Colombo.
Sri Lanka have won six of the past nine Tests at Galle - and 15 of 27 overall - with 71-Test veteran Herath bowling the home side to victory in many of them.
Only a year ago, Herath took second-innings figures of 7-48 in a 63-run triumph over India, probably the most adept nation against slow bowling.
To prove Galle is well suited to the spinners, India's Ravi Ashwin took 10 wickets in that same match.
The good news for Australia is that out of Sri Lanka's six losses at the ground, they've been responsible for two, in 2004 and 2011.
After capitulating in Kandy, Australian skipper Steve Smith and coach Darren Lehmann talked about getting better at combatting 38-year-old Herath, who can get some significant turn for a finger spinner but gets many wickets with deliveries that skid on.
Out of his match figures of 9-103 last week, three dismissals were lbw and three bowled.
"(Herath) bowled at the stumps, consistently at the stumps," said Lehmann.
"That's a challenge for the batting group, getting through those tough times. They have got to work out a plan.
"We have talked about it a lot so they know what to do, it's just executing more than anything else."
The home side's only concern is Nuwan Pradeep, Sri Lanka's only fast bowler in the first Test, who is in doubt with a hamstring strain.
TESTS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND SRI LANKA AT GALLE
Sept 2011 - Australia won by 125 runs
March, 2004 - Australia won by 197 runs
Sept 1999 - Drawn
SRI LANKA TEST RECORD AT GALLE
Played: 27
Won: 15 (including 6 of past 9)
Lost: 6
Drawn: 6
RANGANA HERATH RECORD AT GALLE
Matches: 14
Wickets: 78
Best bowling: 7-48 v India, August 2015
Average: 24.32
Five-wicket hauls: 8
Ten-wicket match hauls: 3 (Note: Five overall in career)
