Captain Michael Clarke has stepped to the defence of Australia's rotation policy ahead of the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Brisbane.

The hosts rested Clarke, batsman David Warner and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade for the first two fixtures of the five-match affair, which is currently locked at one win apiece, and were without fast bowlers Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle for the Perth Test against South Africa last year.

Friday, too, might see southpaw seamers Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson rested again, after the pair missed the second ODI in Adelaide due to minor injuries. All-rounder Ben Cutting, meanwhile, has been called up as cover for Starc and Johnson.

"What the public wants to see is the best possible Australian team on the field, every game, and honestly I think we're trying to do that. I really do. I think the risk of playing someone when they're not 100 percent fit, if they do get injured, can put them out for six weeks, six months," said Clarke.

"The issue where the Australian team now is compared to 10 years ago, if 10 years ago you had four, five, six, seven great players in one team - so if they were 80 percent fit, they were still good enough to win a game for Australia. Where we sit now as a team is, it's a lot different to that."

Clarke was unable to confirm the playing XI for the clash at the 'Gabba, as all-rounder Moises Henriques' participation remained in the balance in the wake of a hand injury sustained at practice.

The Australian skipper, however, looked forward to an even contest between bat and ball at a ground he believed sports "the best one-day wicket in the world."

"It's always a beautiful wicket. It has beautiful pace and bounce for the bowlers but as you get in as a batter, there's no better place to bat either," concluded Clarke.

Sydney and Melbourne will host the fourth and fifth ODIs on Sunday and Wednesday respectively. Two Twenty20 Internationals will follow.