The pressure on Australia to bounce back in the second Test against South Africa after its 177-run defeat in the tour opener has intensified.
In the lead-up to Saturday's match in Hobart, Australian captain Steve Smith has come under scrutiny.
Some former players say they believe, if his side does not turn around its four-Test losing streak, he will come under even greater pressure.
Former South African captain Graeme Smith was one of those speaking out.
"He looks like a real solid character, but he's got to figure out a lot. You've got to grow. I mean, I had those challenges at times throughout my career, and, you know, you need to take those steps forward and learn and develop. So it's a big time for him."
Joe Burns is set to come into the side for injured batsman Shaun Marsh.
In Rugby Union, Australia takes on Scotland, looking to keep its Grand Slam hopes alive with a victory at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.
Michael Cheika's side is looking to repeat the feat last achieved by the Wallabies back in 1984.
To do that, the Wallabies must beat Scotland, Ireland and England in their remaining Spring Tour fixtures.
There is also a match against France in Paris to fit in amid those games, but the only questions Cheika wanted to address were about this weekend's game.
"I think they're irrelevant, mate, because, right now, the only game where the Grand Slam is up is Scotland. We've reset our clock to zero so that we can get more out of this week and play better on Saturday."
The match takes place in the early hours of Sunday morning, Australian time.
In rugby League Four Nations action, there are two matches in England over the coming days.
New Zealand takes on Scotland in Workington on Saturday morning. (7am AEST)
In the early hours of Monday morning, (1am AEST) England, led by Australian coach Wayne Bennett, will face Mal Meninga's Australian team at London's Olympic Park.
The A-League schedule has put up a mouth-watering game tonight, (fri) with defending champion Adelaide United up against the resurgent Brisbane Roar.
Brisbane has won its last three matches, while, for Adelaide, it is a chance to get its first win of the season.
Adelaide defender Ben Garuccio says the team is not panicking about its slow start to the season.
"There's got to be a point where we do turn the corner. I think, if you look at the team and the way we've been playing for the most part, people can definitely see it coming. We can feel it coming, but it's just about actually doing it on the weekend."
SBS has full coverage of that match at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide from 7.30 pm. (AEST)
The players on both teams will wear shirts incorporating a Remembrance Day poppy, as will all A-League and women's-league teams throughout the weekend.
That has put Football Federation Australia on a possible collision course with the world governing body, FIFA.
FIFA requires that international fixtures have no political, religious nor commercial messages on jerseys.
Any FIFA action on the matter could follow the England and Scotland teams playing each other this weekend, because they also have plans to sport poppies.
In the World Cup qualifier between football's oldest international foes, both England and Scotland will defy FIFA's rule at London's Wembley Stadium.
Interim England coach Gareth Southgate explains why.
"The fact that we have the freedom of speech to make statements as we see fit. We owe it to the people that gave their lives in the two world wars, in particular. The poppy now commemorates a lot more than that, and I understand people have individual views on that, but I think the history of what we are as a team and that we represent the nation is important to note. And I think the fact we're wearing the poppy is the most important thing."
In motorsport, the Brazilian Grand Prix could lead to Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg securing a maiden world drivers title and denying teammate and closest standings rival Lewis Hamilton.
If Rosberg wins the race in the early hours of Monday morning, the defending champion Hamilton cannot catch him.
Finally, in basketball action this weekend, the Cairns Taipans face the Brisbane Bullets in a match that can be seen on SBS HD at 3pm on Sunday.
Share
