Batsman Thilan Samaraweera has insisted Sri Lanka's ambition to win their first Test in Australia has not wavered, despite heavy defeats in the opening fixtures of the three-match affair which have seen bookmakers like Paddy Power install the hosts as overwhelming favourites for a series white-wash.

The tourists were beaten by 137 runs in Hobart and slumped to an innings and 201-run loss inside three days in Melbourne, where the hosts secured an unassailable two-one series lead.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have lost the services of veteran batsman Kumar Sangakkara and seamer Chanaka Welegedara to respective hand and hamstring injuries. The participation of wicketkeeper-batsman Prassana Jayawardene and all-rounder Nuwan Kulasekara, too, remains in the balance.

Jayawardene is nursing a fractured thumb, while Kulasekara is recovering from an injured rib, which has left batsman Lahiru Thirimanne and seamer Suranga Lakmal on standby ahead of the clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which has seen heavy backing from people who like to bet on cricket for another Australia win.

"It was really hard to digest that defeat at the MCG, but that's in the past now. The good thing is this team have the belief they can make history by winning one Test in Australia," said Samaraweera.

"That is the kind of attitude we have going into the the next Test. We have nothing to lose. We're two-nil down, but these 16 players and 10 in the management team want to go out by winning this Test."

Next week's match will be batsman Mahela Jayawardene's last in charge of the Test team. Jayawardene announced his resignation from the captaincy earlier this month, with all-rounder Angelo Mathews set to succeed him.

"This is the right time for Mahela to step down.We have to move on for the future. It gives Angelo a chance to captain, while three or four senior players are still playing and will help with the pressure," added Samaraweera.