Familiarity need not necessarily breed contempt. In the last 12 months, India and Sri Lanka have played against each other in 12 ODIs, three Tests and three Twenty20 matches and the teams continue to share a grudging respect for each other.
On Tuesday, the two neighbours will clash again at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in a match that is a dress-rehearsal for the Asia Cup final.
India and Sri Lanka having already qualified for the summit clash, tiding past Pakistan's challenge and swatting aside an inept Bangladesh.
India though will miss Virender Sehwag. The opener, who suffered a hamstring injury, requires 10 days of rest and will fly back homewhile Dinesh Karthik has already joined the squad as reinforcement.
The onus of shouldering the batting will rest on Gautam Gambhir and skipper M.S. Dhoni though Suresh Raina flickered in the triumph against Pakistan.
Good signs
Zaheer Khan's spells that sparkled in the slog, is another heartening sign.
In a venue where chasing is difficult on a sluggish pitch, and that too under lights, India has mounted two successful pursuits against Bangladesh and Pakistan.
It is a good sign and India will try and keep complacency at bay as proclaimed by Harbhajan Singh.
“We don't think that just because we have reached the final, the match isn't important, it's as important as the final," the off-spinner said.
Sri Lanka, high on the flexibility that Tillakaratne Dilshan and Angelo Mathews provide, have had a good run in the tournament.
The defending champion has also benefited from Malinga's searing spells.
The stage is set for a sneak preview of the final and if recent past is any evidence, a close tussle is on the cards. In their last 12 ODIs, India has won six games while Sri Lanka pocketed five with one match being abandoned on a dubious pitch at Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla.
The teams: India: M.S. Dhoni (captain), Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Pragyan Ojha, Ashok Dinda, R. Ashwin, Saurabh Tiwary and Virender Sehwag.
Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Farveez Maharoof, Chamara Kapugedara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chanaka Welegedara, Lasith Malinga, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath and Thilina Kandamby.
Umpires : Billy Bowden and Bruce Oxenford; Third umpire: Iben Shashid;
Match referee : Andy Pycroft.
Play starts at 2.30 p.m.
