PERTH, Australia (CMC) — History, coupled with a pacer-friendly pitch, will be the driving force behind the West Indies’ quest for a series-levelling victory over Australia in the third and final Test which bowls off here tomorrow (tonight, Eastern Caribbean time).

With the Frank Worrell Trophy safely back in the hands of the Aussies following the tense draw in Adelaide just over a week ago, West Indies will be hoping to salvage something from the series by ending it with what would be a moraleboosting win at the WACA.

It is the Western Australia ground which the tourists hope will bring them the necessary good omen they so badly require. Firstly, they boast an almost impregnable impressive record at the ground and secondly, the pitch is expected to be a lively one, a welcome boon to their newest fastest bowling recruit Kemar Roach who has been the quickest pacer on show in the series.

To their credit, the Windies have lost just one of their last six matches at the WACA and have won three of their last four Tests, dating back to 1988. Only one of those matches has gone the distance with the other three having finished inside three days, largely due to incisive fast bowling on either side.

With that said, West Indies have not beaten Australia in a Test Down Under in eight years and have lost nine of the last 10 played. They will also want to quickly forget that the last time they played at Perth back in 2000, they capitulated to an innings and 27-run loss inside three days.

Ramnaresh Sarwan, now a veteran of 82 Tests, is the only survivor from that carnage and his desire to avenge that loss will be as crucial as his batting which has failed to spark so far in the series.

However, the proud history at the WACA could prove to be catalyst as the tourists harbour thoughts of drawing a series in which pundits predicted they would have been soundly whipped by a superior Australian side.

West Indies will also be looking to one of the most inexperienced members of their side for inspiration, as speedster Roach will be central to their attack on a wicket that curator Cameron Sutherland has promised will be a lovely one.

Roach has been more than handful for the Aussie batsmen in the series, though he has taken just four wickets in the first two Tests. The 21-year-old right-armer, who has played just four Tests to date in a fledgling career, has been the bright spot for the Caribbean side despite their fortunes in the series.

The lean Barbadian has consistently clocked a shade over 150 km in the series and has troubled all the Aussie batsmen with his searing pace, causing them discomfort on relatively flat wickets in the first two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide respectively.

Captain Chris Gayle has backed the rookie speedster to shake up the Australians.

“Our young paceman Kemar Roach will create a lot of problems and be a huge handful with his pace for the Aussies on the bouncy pitch in Perth. I think we will see something extraordinary from him,” he said.

“He is very quick and very slippery. He bowled at 150 km/h in Adelaide, even late in spells when he should have been getting a bit tired. I’m no expert on pace but I think he can go a lot quicker.”

Though only four years old at the time, Roach will be inspired by the tale of Curtly Ambrose’s devastating spell at the WACA 16 years ago when he snatched seven for 25 to fire West Indies to an innings and 25-run win and a 2-1 series victory, which remains their last over the Aussies.

Roach will have as support another rookie pacer Ravi Rampaul, along with medium pacer Dwayne Bravo and tour selectors could be tempted to give fast bowler Gavin Tonge his first Test cap at the expense of either left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn or medium pacer Darren Sammy.

On the batting side, West Indies are hoping key middle order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul will be fully fit to take his place after undergoing scans on a finger injury, sustained during the last Test.

Team officials said the scans were merely precautionary and noted they expected the left-handed veteran of 123 Tests to be fit for the encounter.

Gayle will be hoping West Indies batsmen sustain their momentum from Adelaide when they achieved totals of 451 and 317. Both he and Bravo reeled off centuries while Nash got 92, and these three will again be key on a pitch less favourable to large scores.

Australia, meanwhile, will look to hit back after almost being embarrassed in the last Test. After convincingly winning the opening Test by an innings and 65 runs inside three days, they stumbled and stuttered and were forced to hang on grimly for a draw in Adelaide against a resurgent Windies.

They are sweating on the fitness of pacer Peter Siddle who has been bothered by a nagging hamstring, and selectors have called up Tasmanian fast bowler Brett Geeves as cover.

TEAMS (from):

AUSTRALIA — Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke (vicecaptain), Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Clint McKay, Marcus North, Peter Siddle and Shane Watson.

WEST INDIES — Chris Gayle (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Adrian Barath, Brendan Nash, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Gavin Tonge, Darren Sammy, Travis Dowlin, Sulieman Benn, Narsingh Deonarine.