Coach Darren Lehmann has entrusted the stewardship of the Test rebuild to captain Steven Smith and deputy David Warner as Australia prepare to unveil their new-look team for the first time this summer.
There will be no Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin or Ryan Harris at the Gabba when they stride out to play New Zealand on Thursday, while rock-solid opener Chris Rogers has also left a formidable gap at the top of the order.
In comes silken left-hander Usman Khawaja, likely to bat at three behind new opener Joe Burns, while Peter Nevill will continue to build his case as Australia's newest wicketkeeper-batsman. 
It is a clear changing of the guard, the likes of which Lehmann has masterminded before at state level when he whipped the Queensland Bulls into shape before taking the national job.
But he said he would leave the form of the revamp largely to the playing group, with Smith and Warner at the vanguard as Australia begin a distinct fresh era against a confident Black Caps team, which will fancy its chances to make top-order inroads at the seam-friendly Gabba.
The notion that Warner would become a key plank of a national rebuild would have seemed left-field not that long ago but such has been the opener's rise as a dominating batsman and leader off the field.
And Smith has now been given the chance by his coach to put a genuine stamp on the identity of the side as he approaches his first Test in charge after stepping in for the retiring Clarke.
"I'm more excited by David Warner and Steve Smith rebuilding the side, to be honest. The players will do that," Lehmann said.
"We'll just guide them along the way, that's all we're here to do. And prep them the best way we possibly can. But we're all excited, players and staff. It's exciting times."
Exciting is one word for it. Throw in intriguing as well when it comes to the new top order, as well as a healthy dose of nerves. Burns and Khawaja have played Tests before but now get the opportunity to grasp a spot with both hands.
Lehmann has been a long-time supporter of Khawaja, bringing him up from Sydney to Brisbane for Shield cricket after Khawaja wanted to add layers to his game by playing more cricket at the Gabba, particularly against fast bowling.
That is now complete and Lehmann said it was the right time for Khawaja to step up to the plate after always looking and feeling like a Test player, without completely delivering in his nine previous Test outings.
"You'd hope so, that's why we've picked him. We know he's a great technician and he's got time, which is important at this level when you've got guys like [Trent] Boult and [Tim] Southee bowling at you," Lehmann said. 
"He's a good player of fast bowling and he knows the conditions here. It's the right time for him to perform.
"He moved up to change the way he played a little bit. They're [Khawaja and Burns] really good players and they've just got to be given the opportunity. They play off the front and back foot and it's really important at international level to do that."
For the first time in a long time, there has been little talk about Australia's spin stocks ahead of the Gabba Test, with Nathan Lyon firmly established as the first-choice slow bowler.
That has also killed the reliable 'four quicks' angle, which Lehmann was happy to slay right off the bat. Now he must settle on which of Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle and Josh Hazlewood make the cut.
"We are pretty comfortable with where our quicks are at. [Now it's a matter of] do we go with two left-armers [Johnson and Starc] or whatever," Lehmann said.
"We won't bowl four quicks unless there is a monsoon. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon has had success here and we have an allrounder in the side [Mitchell Marsh]."
Southee, in particular, shapes as a clear danger to the Australians and it won't be a bad toss to lose for New Zealand should they be able to get the ball moving against Australia's top four.
But Burns and Khawaja have extensive experience at the Gabba, which could be a valuable asset as they try to see off the swinging ball.