Three weeks after their failed Twenty20 World Cup defence, Australia can start putting finishing touches on their campaign to return to another world championship final.
It's the reality that sums up cricket's problematic, overcooked schedule, while also gifting added meaning to a summer lacking a marquee Test series.
On the face of it, this summer looms as the hardest sell in some time for officials at a time when questions are asked over the popularity of the men's team.
There are no Ashes, Border-Gavaskar Trophy or No.1-ranked touring team like Cricket Australia officials have been blessed with for the past five seasons.
The touring West Indies have not won a Test in Australia since 1996-97, with prestige around the Frank Worrell Trophy slipping with the Windies' rankings.
South Africa then follow in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney and while they should present a sterner test several of their big names have exited in recent years after internal unrest.
Externally some pundits have already cast an eye forward to Australia's tours of India and England next year - the biggest year on the national team's calendar.
But well before then, the Pat Cummins-led Australian players have an eye on ticking one important box this summer.
Qualifying for a World Test Championship final at The Oval next June.
Victories in all five homes Tests this summer would all but wrap up a top-two WTC finish, and if results go in Australia's favour elsewhere a spot in the decider will be locked in before heading to India for the last tour of the cycle.
Simply winning both home series would also put one foot in the WTC final, particularly given that South Africa loom as a threat to steal a spot away from Australia.
The chance to claim a spot comes after the disappointment of missing the 2021 final through an over-rate penalty and abandoned tour of South Africa lingered in Australia's minds for some time.
Still, Australia are adamant those scenarios are still far from ticked off.
The West Indies remain unbeaten in Tests this year, having knocked off England 1-0 in a three-match series in the Caribbean before accounting for Bangladesh.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul will offer an element of the unknown if he follows in his father's footsteps and earns a Test debut at the top of the order.
Quick Kemar Roach is in the best form of his career at age 34, after making his mark in Australia by rattling Ricky Ponting up some 12 years ago.
South Africa also are historically strong here, with their victory in 2016-17 making them only the second touring team to win three straight series in Australia in the past 100 years.
Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis have since exited, but the bowling attack of Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada is threatening.
"We're definitely not taking any teams lightly," paceman Mitchell Starc said.
"We've watched what the Windies can serve up when at their best. We saw what they did against England in England. Not a team to take lightly.
"Then we go into South Africa, who we know are such a strong side, particularly in Australia."
AUSTRALIA'S TEST SUMMER
November 30 - December 4, vs West Indies, Optus Stadium
December 8 - 12, vs West Indies, Adelaide Oval
December 17 - 21, vs South Africa, Gabba
December 26 - 30, vs South Africa, MCG
January 4 - 8, vs South Africa, SCG.
