Former Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin says the loss of Mitchell Starc won't stop Australia beating the West Indies this summer, but it will be a relief to the tourists.
Haddin said a young Windies batting line-up would have been "terrorised" by Starc and will be breathing a little easier after the left-arm quick broke down with injury.
But the former gloveman has dismissed the once mighty Windies as a threat this summer, saying it will still be a case of "five out, all out" for the battling visitors.
The third-last Test ranked Windies will begin their Australian tour against a Cricket Australia XI at Brisbane's Allan Border Field in a four-day clash from Wednesday.
The inexperienced visitors have been written off ahead of their three-Test series against world No.2 Australia starting in Hobart on December 10.
The Windies have not recorded an overseas series win against any nation except for minnows Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in 20 years.
Haddin believed the unavailability of Starc (ankle) and uncertainty over Australia's bowling line-up would provide the Windies some hope of a competitive summer.
But Haddin reckoned the Windies' brittle batting line-up would ensure the series result would be the same - a convincing win to the hosts.
"What will make a difference is no Mitchell Starc," he told Sky Sports Radio.
"The way he was bowling he would have terrorised the lower order and I think the Windies would be five out, all out.
"No Mitchell Starc will give them some confidence.
"But I can't see them being overly competitive against us."
The Windies may need all the help they can get but they have no complaints about their limited preparation ahead of next week's first Test.
The tourists have just one match before the series opener at Bellerive Oval.
And that's against a no-name Cricket Australia XI at a sweltering Brisbane's Allan Border Field - in stark contrast to a chilly Hobart that awaits.
New Zealand had three tour matches before their recent three-Test series Down Under which they lost 2-0.
But Windies team manager Richie Richardson said it was business as usual.
Asked about having just one tour match before the first Test, Richardson said: "That is how it is these days.
"Players are accustomed to that.
"It is about getting yourself ready, as quickly as possible."
