Glenn Maxwell must lean on and learn from Australia's stand-in coach Justin Langer as he attempts to end a run of outs in the one-day format.
Maxwell is Australia's reigning ODI player of the year and averaged 56.33 with the bat in a productive home series against India in January.
Since then he has totalled just nine runs from five ODI knocks, including scores of zero and three during the current tri-series in the West Indies.
However, those innings are spread over four months and fall either side of a side strain and some decent Twenty20 digs.
Maxwell was wrongly judged lbw during Australia's loss to South Africa in Georgetown, while he was clean bowled by a remarkable off-break from Sunil Narine at the same venue in the opening game.
Darren Lehmann is currently taking a temporary break from coaching and Maxwell will instead work closely with Langer this week.
Maxwell sees the upside to picking another cricket brain.
"That was really good when Diva (former assistant coach Michael Di Venuto) came into the squad. He had a different perspective on batting and different ideas he brought into your game," Maxwell told AAP recently.
"You don't want to tinker with too much when you're in the middle of a tournament.
"But it's nice if they can pick up something that helps you."
The allrounder will be desperate to impress when Australia face the Proteas in St Kitts at 3am AEST on Sunday.
Runs are the currency that selectors care most about, although in Maxwell's case his fielding and offspin are also part of the equation.
St Kitts is a small ground that has produced big totals, with the expectation being Australia will revert to playing one frontline spinner.
If that transpires, selectors will be more reluctant to drop Maxwell despite George Bailey waiting in the wings.
"He's bowled quite well in these first two games," Josh Hazlewood said of Maxwell.
"To bowl six, seven or even 10 overs if he's on a roll - he's a very important member for your team."
Hazlewood added that Maxwell loves a challenge and it tends to bring out the best in the 27-year-old.
"He's obviously a bit disappointed," Hazlewood said.
"Cricket obviously has its ups and downs ... I'm sure that he'll bounce back."
Fit-again spearhead Mitchell Starc is likely to return to the XI after being rested from the 47-run loss to the Proteas.
Mitch Marsh impressed with the ball but battled with the bat in Guyana, where fellow allrounder James Faulkner was overlooked for both games.
"He (Faulkner) is still here and working hard .. for him it's just about making sure he's being consistent with the ball," skipper Steve Smith said last week.
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