Hayden did not play in the West Indies Tests this year as he battled an ongoing achilles tendon injury but he is keen to take on India, who have been one of his more favoured opponents. He leads the run-charts against them among the current touring party and has an equally impressive record in India, so he expects bowlers to vie for his wicket.

“Having played over there, and played well over there, I think I’m going to be the obvious target,” Hayden told the Courier-Mail. During the 2001 visit, Hayden scored 549 in three Tests, and has since been a regular member of Australia’s Test team.

In the same series, Harbhajan took 32 wickets in a gripping contest that India won 2-1. Hayden, one of four members in the squad with Test experience in India, said he would need to step up to the threat.

“Harbhajan is very competitive, especially in his own environment,” he said. “He’s a big threat to our side, no doubt about that. He’s skilful and has got some weapons in conditions that will really favour him. My job will be to combat that so, for me, it’s a battle I’m really looking forward to.”

Relations between the two players were strained during India’s recent tour of Australia. Hayden called Harbhajan “an obnoxious little weed” on a radio show in the aftermath of Andrew Symonds alleging the offspinner had racially abused him – charges that were not proved.

Hayden said the “whole dynamic” of the Australia Test side had changed in recent years, with Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist retiring. “To be part of the No.1 cricket side in the world is always a big challenge because we are the benchmark,” he said. “I expect no mercy from the Indians but that’s why I’ll enjoy this series. I’ll be right in the thick of it. I think this series is tailor-made for guys like me.”

Michael Brown, Cricket Australia’s general manager of cricket, will also receive a report on Tuesday from Reg Dickason, the team’s security advisor, but a spokesman said there had been no change to the schedule for the four-Test series. “Our position is that the tour is going ahead unless we are otherwise persuaded,” Peter Young, Cricket Australia’s general manager of public affairs, told Cricinfo. “Our advice is there are some concerns and to exercise caution, but currently they do not compromise the tour. Our plan is to depart on September 21 subject to our advice.”

Australia have scheduled warm-up games in Jaipur and Hyderabad, where bombs have gone off over the past year, before heading to Bangalore, where one person was killed in attacks in July, for the opening Test on October 9. While Cricket Australia will continue to discuss the issue with their security advisers, the government and the Indian board, more information on the situation in the country is available from members of the Australia A squad.