The Australian cricket team have dubbed the Trent Bridge Test, beginning tonight, their grand final as their fate in the series rests on the outcome.
Michael Clarke's side is 2-1 down after being thrashed inside three days at Edgbaston, but the players cling to the hope that they can do what they did after Cardiff.
The Australians won by 405 runs at Lord's in a commanding display after selectors dropped Shane Watson and Brad Haddin made himself unavailable. 
Those two have not been recalled and there is an expectation that Shaun Marsh will replace Adam Voges, but selectors may be watching the bowling stocks closely, too.
Mitchell Starc fainted on Saturday, which caused a stir in the camp after Chris Rogers had suffered similar spells recently. Starc was given the all-clear by the team doctor later and has been bowling well at training.
The bowling attack has struggled in the losing matches and there had been suggestions either Starc or Josh Hazlewood could be axed, but it appears increasingly unlikely.
Peter Siddle remains in the wings and bowling well in the nets and knows this may be his last chance to play on tour, while Pat Cummins has had his bowling loads increased to ensure he is available for this game but remains underdone. Clarke is under pressure to score runs but has dismissed the notion he is considering walking away. "I am not retiring," he announced defiantly ahead of the match.
Clarke and Mitchell Johnson have both referred to today's Test as a grand final. Everything is on the line as far as the series is concerned. Everything is on the line as far as the captain is concerned, too.
"I think we can take confidence that we bounced back after Cardiff," Clarke said. "We've got to have the same attitude, we know because it was two weeks ago we had to win the next Test match and now we sit in the same position. We've seen it in one-day cricket, we've seen it in the World Cup final as well. It's now a build-up for the grand final for us. There should be no reason why guys aren't absolutely buzzing, because for us this is our grand final." Clarke, playing his fourth Ashes in England, has never been part of a series win on these shores.
Trent Bridge marks the most critical moment of his captaincy. He can give his team a chance to change its record and at the same time change his own fortunes. "A win is the No 1 priority and runs come second after that," he said.
England captain Alastair Cook is not in the greatest form himself and has had periods similar to Clarke where he has been under immense pressure.
"There's a lot of mutual respect, from my side (at least). I don't know Michael that well off the field. We've had a few battles along our career. One has been up, the other has been down.
"Obviously I've got a lot of respect for him as a leader and a cricketer â€¦ obviously it's nice when the captain of the other side is not scoring runs, but you don't have a record like he does without being a quality player." England go into the match without opening bowler James Anderson. "Jimmy is going to be missed, we can't deny that," Cook said. "With the skills he's got and his record, especially here at Trent Bridge, 100 Test matches - you can't buy that experience.
"But as I said at the end of Edgbaston we have to look at it as an opportunity. The guy coming in has got a great opportunity to form a new attack.
"Everyone at some stage moves on, I know Jimmy will come back when he's fit. But you don't play forever and think 'who is irreplaceable'. There's always someone who can come in." Mark Wood, who was replaced by Steve Finn at Edgbaston, is -expected to be recalled.
Watson broke his -silence after his axing at a sponsor's event and says he hopes to continue playing cricket, but accepts he deserved to be dropped.
"I still feel I have got a lot to give," he said. "I still feel I am only getting better and improving in all formats. While I'm still really loving playing, enjoying every single moment and trying to get better every time I play and train, I want to keep playing as long as that's still there.
"I know how lucky I have been to be able to have the opportunities I have had and while I'm still loving every minute of it I will continue to try to push to get the best out of myself and play.
"You never know what's around the corner. Obviously I haven't played in the last couple of Test matches so I don't know what's around the corner but I'm still excited what the future holds." Watson spoke to Cricket Australia's website at a sponsor's function. "For me it's where the game takes me," he said.
"I still want to play for Australia so wherever the opportunities arise I will be playing to be able to continue to be able to get the best out of myself and push for selection. I still feel like I have got a lot of good cricket left in me."CATE MCGREGOR P35