Pat Cummins will tell his Australian teammates to go for the kill and pursue victory at the SCG, despite a draw being enough to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Friday's fifth Test against India looms as one of the biggest on home soil this century, and the first time Sydney has had a live series finale since 2004.

Up 2-1, Australia will end 10 years of Indian dominance with a win or a draw.

But there is also more on the line after Monday's thrilling final-hour victory at the MCG.

A win in Sydney would wrap up a spot in June's World Test Championship final against South Africa, with two Tests still to play in Sri Lanka later in the summer.

Rain could also play its part, with good weather forecast for the opening three days before showers on Monday and Tuesday.

That could potentially help Australia if they fall behind and need to save the Test, with India the side who must win in Sydney.

Regardless, Cummins said playing for a draw was the furthest thing from his mind.

"You go in thinking only about the win," Australia's Test captain said.

"If the wicket or weather or anything takes you in a different direction, then maybe. But that's really it.

"It's not until day four or five until you consider anything like that."

The Sydney Test will also go a long way towards determining the legacy of Australia's current team.

While Beau Webster will debut in Sydney and teenager Sam Konstas is playing his second Test, Australia's team is made up of 10 players aged over 30.

Of the experienced group, only Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon have played in a Test series win over India, back in 2014-15.

In the time since the current group have retained the Ashes twice in England, won a World Test Championship and claimed both the 50-over and T20 World Cups.

But a Border-Gavaskar series win over India has been the one thing to elude Australia, with two series losses in India and another two at home.

"It's kind of the one big thing that I want to tick off," Cummins said at the start of the summer.

"Particularly winning at home. Most Australians, me included, expect us to do well whenever we play at home.

"We've lost the (last) two series against them (in Australia), so this is a big one.

"We feel like our team's in a really good place, so we've got no reason why we shouldn't perform really well.

"I just always expect us to do well against whoever we play. But India, particularly, is a big year, big season."