Ricky Ponting, all set to fly to India on Friday, said he does not expect to be targeted by the Indian bowlers and will not use a brace to protect his thumb.
Ponting, who broke his thumb during the ICC Champions Trophy last month, missed the first two Tests against India in Chennai and Bangalore and is expected to play only in the fourth and last Test starting in Mumbai on November 3.
"They'll find it hard to hit this one. It's the top hand (of the grip). Had it been the bottom hand, then they might have had something to aim at," the skipper was quoted as saying in the Daily Telegraph.
Ponting also said he would not rule himself out of fielding in the slips, although he conceded he would be wary of bad bounces when fielding.
The four-match series is currently lead 1-0 by Australia who won the first Test by 217 runs. The second Test in Chennai resulted in a rain-induced draw while the third begins in Nagpur on October 26.