Pat Cummins faces tough balancing act in India-Australia ODI series

Australia will look to get the most out of the upcoming three-match ODI series in India - the best possible preparation for the World Cup that begins early next month in the country.

The Aussies have a number of injury concerns and time is running out for their first-choice team to get up and running before the main 50-over event begins on October 5.

Captain Pat Cummins is hopeful of playing in all three ODIs against India, the first of which is in Mohali on Friday, on his return from a wrist injury. However, fast bowler Mitchell Starc and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell will miss the series opener.

Left-arm quick Starc has been recovering from a groin injury sustained during the Ashes series in England, while Maxwell will join the squad on Friday having recovered from an ankle injury.

"My wrist is all healed now ... hoping to play all three games," Cummins said on Thursday.

Veteran batsman Steve Smith is also set to return from a wrist injury. However, opener Travis Head has been ruled out with a fractured hand, making him doubtful for the World Cup as well.

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"We want to strike the balance between getting used to these conditions, hopefully winning some games, but we also don't want to get to that first [World Cup] game and already be cooked," Cummins said.

"No doubt we'll be trying a few different combinations, a few different players will get a chance but ideally we'd like to structure up pretty closely to how we'll play in the World Cup."

While Australia are missing a few names, what they do have in abundance is all-rounders. Marcus Stoinis shared the new ball on the recent tour of South Africa and the Aussies have two more pace-bowling all-rounder options in Cameron Green and Sean Abbott.