Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson are due to arrive in South Africa on Monday for the Twenty20 World Cup, but their late appearance and lack of preparation will hurt Australia's chances of adding another trophy to its overflowing cabinet.
Both players may be left out of Australia's opening match, against Zimbabwe in Cape Town on Wednesday, because they are so underdone.
They will miss practice matches against New Zealand today and South Africa tomorrow near Johannesburg, leaving them with no cricket since winning the World Cup in the West Indies during late April.
Coach Tim Nielsen said that Watson in particular would be gently nursed through the first week of the tour because of the hamstring soreness he suffered at training last Sunday, the day before the squad departed for South Africa.
"We'll have to see how it goes when Ricky gets here and see how he's pulling up," Nielsen said.
"It's a long trip and he'll be assessed by the medical staff to make sure he's OK.
"As for Watto, we'll have to take him pretty gently and get him over the flight.
"I think it was a real positive that we were able to leave him home and give him that critical recovery time over the first 48 hours, without having to travel.
"He's recovered really well, so he'll hopefully come here and feel pretty good once he gets over the long flight.
"Over the next week we'll be able to give him the runaround and see how he goes."
Most other countries have already played some recent cricket, with England and India arriving early next week in battle-hardened condition after a full northern summer of Test and one-day matches.
Even Zimbabwe pushed South Africa in a recent one-day series, with wicketkeeper batsman Tatenda Taibu, who has returned from exile after threats were made against him by Zimbabwe administrators, scoring a century.
Following Zimbabwe, Australia's second match is against England on Friday. The World Cup champion must win one of those games to remain in the tournament and both to ensure a Cape Town semi-final, where the team will be based for most of the competition.
The International Cricket Council will be relieved to hear that Ponting is on the way and is hopeful of arriving just hours before the ICC awards on Monday night.
Cricket Australia was last night attempting to have Ponting booked on a flight tomorrow so he would arrive that evening, thus avoiding a rush straight from the airport to the awards. However that was proving difficult.
Given that the Australia captain has been nominated for four awards - cricketer of the year, one day player of the year, Test player of the year and captain of the year - and could win all of them, it would be a major embarrassment and a hollow night without him.
Ponting did not travel with the squad on Monday because of a health problem with his wife Rianna.
In a short statement released by CA yesterday, Ponting revealed for the first time that there had been a health issue with his wife, which he did not specify.
"Fortunately Rianna's health has improved over the last few days and I'm hoping travel plans can be finalised as soon as possible," Ponting said in the statement.
"I'm grateful for the support we've both had from Cricket Australia and my team-mates and in particular I'd like to thank (vice-captain) Adam Gilchrist and (coach) Tim Nielsen for their leadership roles in the early days of the Australian squad's first-ever Twenty20 international tour.
"It made things easier here knowing the team was in such good hands.
"With things on the improve, Rianna and I are both keen that I now focus on the job at hand with the Australian team."
Stuart Clarke, who delayed his departure because of an sick child, arrived on Thursday and may play in tomorrow's practice match.