West Indies wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva insists his team's horror recent record in Australia must be left behind, hopeful new blood can provide a spark for the tourists.
With Brian Lara acting as a mentor in the nets, West Indies players ramped up their preparations for the Frank Worrell Trophy series at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
Torn apart by franchise leagues and with seven uncapped players in their squad, the West Indies' arrival has largely been viewed as a weak spot in the summer.
The Windies were beaten convincingly in two Tests in Australia last summer, and such is the turnover in their squad only five players remain from that tour.
But Da Silva, who scored a century in a warm-up match against an inexperienced Cricket Australia XI last week, insists the fresh faces can be a positive.
"Last year is last year and we're here to try again," Da Silva said.
"We have a few new faces so we are going to have a bit of new blood coming in. It's going to be exciting.
"Everybody's really keen. Seven uncapped players. If they haven't gotten a taste, they're really raring to go get a taste of it. So the mood in the camp is great."
The situation is nothing new for the men from the Caribbean, who have averaged one debutant every two Tests in the past five years.
At least three more will come on day one of the first Test on Wednesday, with Kavem Hodge and Justin Greaves likely to make up the middle order and Shamar Joseph an exciting quick.
The tourists have not beaten Australia in a Test in almost 21 years, while their last victory in Australia came in Perth in 1997.
And while the Test game once suffered during a time when the white-ball team fired, West Indies failed to even qualify for last year's ODI World Cup.
Players are asked about returning to the heights of the team's wonder years almost every time they speak, but no resurgence appears in sight.
"That's always a goal," Da Silva said.
"We talk about it every day, about getting back to those days.
"But it's a new era now. And we're just looking forward to making our own brand and playing that brand of cricket."
There do remain some hallmarks of the West Indies teams of past, with Lara employed as a full-time mentor last February.
Former quick Kenny Benjamin is an assistant to coach Stuart Coley, while Carl Hooper is part of the white-ball set up.
"The knowledge (Lara) has is second to none," Da Silva said.
"What he's done for the game, what he's done for West Indies cricket on its own. His presence alone speaks for itself.
"Because he's had so much experience, I think everybody can learn from him."
