MELBOURNE: Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat in their decisive tri-series one-day international against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.
Australia are already through to the best-of-three final and Sri Lanka need one point from Friday's game to join them and end India's Australia tour.
Shane Watson was to lead Australia again after regular skipper Michael Clarke decided to rest a back injury.
Paceman James Pattinson returned to the Australia team at the expense of Brett Lee after recovering from a stress injury in his left foot which had sidelined him since early January.
Sri Lanka were without paceman Farveez Maharoof, who injured his back in the seven-wicket loss to India in Hobart last Tuesday.
Maharoof was replaced by offspinner Sachitra Senanayake.
