Australia must end a middle-overs malaise if they're to win the World Twenty20, with vice-captain David Warner conceding their slumps have become drearily predictable.
Australia's path to a maiden World T20 title is easy to comprehend but incredibly challenging.
They almost certainly need to bank four wins on the trot, beating Pakistan and India in the pool stage before triumphing in a semi-final and final.
Batting is the team's big concern ahead of Friday's clash with Pakistan in Chandigarh.
Steve Smith's side got over the line against Bangladesh on Monday but suffered a collapse of 6-57, while losing 4-22 in Dharamsala led to an eight-run loss to New Zealand.
Warner, who dominated a pre-tournament T20 series in South Africa at No.4 but has logged scores of six and 17 in India, called on the middle order to step up.
"It's just the same old, same old. We're losing wickets in clumps," Warner said.
"We don't mean to do it but the type of players that the majority of us are in the middle order, we like to feel bat on ball.
"Sometimes that can be your downfall.
"We don't give ourselves enough opportunity or a chance when we're out there and that's something we have to really take on."
Usman Khawaja and Shane Watson's opening partnership has been one of the side's strengths, the pair putting on stands of 44 and 62 at a good clip.
But calls for Warner to return to opening have been growing louder, with Shane Warne, Ian Chappell and Michael Slater among the past players to question why he isn't at the top of the order.
"For us it's about having more power in the middle and having a left-hander there helps a great deal," Warner said.
"I've batted there before in the IPL and I know my role ... I've got to do as well as I can.
"It's something we (Warner and Smith) spoke about and we came up with that decision. I said to him that I'm happy to do that, to have the fire power at the top."
New Zealand clinched their spot in the World T20 semi-finals with a 22-run win over Pakistan on Tuesday, extending their unbeaten run to three games.
It leaves Australia, Pakistan and India scrapping for the other semi-final berth in the pool.
All three sides have recorded one win, with the hosts fully expected to make it two when they face Bangladesh at 1am AEDT on Thursday.
"We're going to have to win all four games to lift this trophy. We have to be smart and we have to adapt to the conditions," Warner said.
The other scenario is Australia lose to Pakistan then trump India, leaving all three contenders with two pool wins.
Run-rate would decide who advances to the knock-out phase in that case.
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