MELBOURNE, Dec 25: Captain Ricky Ponting says Australia, already in white-hot form, are brimming with enthusiasm for the upcoming Tests against Pakistan in Australia's two major cities, Melbourne and Sydney.

"It's an exciting time of the year. This is a big test match for us," Ponting told reporters before the second test, which starts in Melbourne on Sunday before an expected crowd of 60,000.

"The next two are probably the most exciting Test matches for us to play for the year."

The three-Test series concludes with a match in Sydney starting on Jan 2.

"I expect us to play as well as we played last week," Ponting said.

Pakistan, led by paceman Shoaib Akhtar who took five for 99, had Australia in trouble at 78 for five in their first innings. Wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist (69) and opener Justin Langer (191) then put Australia in control by adding 152 for the sixth wicket.

"This team gets itself into as much trouble as most other test teams do, but we manage to dig our way out and turn those bad patches into very positive ones for us," Ponting said.

"That happened in Perth and that's the difference between this side and most."

World Cup-winning skipper Ponting, who has 83 test caps, took over from Steve Waugh in March in Sri Lanka.

"This is a very good side and continues to amaze most people, how convincingly we have won some games of late," he said.

"Pakistan still might do that (test us) over the next couple of weeks."

Australia have won nine of their 13 tests this year, with three draws and one loss to India.

"For me personally, it's been a little bit frustrating with the bat (failing to add to his 20 test centuries)," Ponting said.

"I have another couple of innings now before the year is up so hopefully I can make them good ones and the year won't be as bad as it could have been."

Meanwhile, Australia opening batsman Justin Langer is hopeful of playing in Sunday's second Ttest against Pakistan after suffering a back injury.

"I'm still a bit sore but I have not given up hope and I guess we'll know what the form is tomorrow morning," Langer told reporters on Saturday.

Langer, suffering from a bulging disc, broke down while fielding a ball at training at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.

"There's still, I guess, doubt - definite doubt," Australia coach John Buchanan said on Saturday.

"But he's certainly improving so we'll keep monitoring that and hopefully make a decision as early as possible - for his sake, but also for (stand-by player) Simon Katich as well."

Langer is Test cricket's leading scorer in 2004 with 1,426 runs, including five centuries.

The 34-year-old left-hander was man of the match after scoring 191 and 97 in last week's first Test against Pakistan in Perth, where Australia won by 491 runs.

Langer underwent pool and massage sessions before and after the team's traditional Christmas lunch on Saturday.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said: "A bad back is not easy to shake but if anyone can shake it, it would be Justin."-Reuters