Australia hopes to finish the year on a high note against Pakistan.

After clinching the World Test Championship and keeping the Ashes, Pat Cummins's team gets a chance to celebrate with their home fans against a team they've dominated in their past five home series.

Australia's head coach, Andrew McDonald, confirmed they'd field their best lineup, welcoming back spinner Nathan Lyon, eager to chase his 500th test wicket after missing the last three Ashes matches due to injury.

Warner's performance becomes a focal point as he aims to silence critics with substantial scores before his planned final appearance in the Sydney finale. Despite securing his spot in Australia's white-ball teams post a prolific World Cup, Warner's Test squad position has been shaky due to declining form.

His selection sparked criticism from former teammate Mitchell Johnson, questioning whether Warner deserved a grand exit in Sydney, five years post 'Sandpaper-gate'.

At 37, Warner, one of Australia's finest openers, can settle the debate with a strong showing at Perth Stadium. However, failure might push selectors to hasten the search for his successor.

Pakistan arrives with Shan Masood as the new skipper, aiming for their maiden series win in Australia and their first test victory since 1995.

Masood inherited captaincy after Babar Azam's resignation post their World Cup semi-final miss. With injuries sidelining key players like Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf's decision to focus on T20 franchise cricket with the Melbourne Stars drew ire from the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Additionally, Abrar Ahmed's knee injury further weakened the squad, ruling him out of Perth and potentially the subsequent matches in Melbourne and Sydney.

Despite a promising unbeaten 201 by Masood in a tour match against an invitational XI in Canberra, the slow Manuka Oval pitch left Pakistan's staff frustrated. They don't expect similar conditions in Perth.

Pakistan's team director, Mohammad Hafeez, acknowledged the slow pitch but emphasized their readiness without using it as an excuse.

While Babar focuses on his batting and Masood finds form, Pakistan's unpredictability offers hope for a formidable 400-run innings, often needed to win in Australia. Yet, facing a strong opponent buoyed by a year of successes might challenge their ability to claim 20 wickets, especially without their top bowling lineup.