Smith eyes Australia's final frontier

Having returned Australia to the top of the world Test rankings, skipper Steve Smith says he has two major items left on his bucket list - win the ICC World T20 and an Ashes series on English soil.

The Australians on Sunday flew out for South Africa where they will play three warm-up games in the lead-up to next month's World T20 in India.

The trophy has proved elusive for the Australians over the first five editions of the tournament, going close in the West Indies in 2010 but falling to England in the final.

It is the only major piece of silverware not to be housed at Cricket Australia headquarters, something Smith is determined to change.

Since Smith took over the captaincy following last year's Ashes loss, the national side has experienced a resurgence.

After running rampant over the West Indies and New Zealand over the summer, they this week regained the No.1 Test ranking for the first time in 18 months.

And Smith says the confidence they have built up over the past few months - despite losing three recent T20 matches to India - is driving their charge.

"It's one that's alluded us," Smith said at Sydney airport on Sunday.

"It's going to be a tough tour in India, in conditions that are foreign to us.

"But I think we've got the squad to give it a real shake.

"From my point of view there's (the World T20) and the away Ashes that needs to be ticked off."

Smith said he expected injured quartet Nathan Coulter-Nile (shoulder), Shane Watson (abdominal strain), Aaron Finch (hamstring) and James Faulkner (hamstring) to be fit for Friday's first T20 against the Proteas with spots on the line ahead of the World Cup.

Of particular interest is the top of the order with Watson, Finch and Usman Khawaja jostling for positions in the top four alongside Smith and vice-captain David Warner.

Smith said the side still had not settled on their best XI for India and expected that to be become clearer following their series with South Africa.

"I'm not sure of the make-up of our top three or four yet, there's a lot guys who can fill that position," Smith said.

"We've got three games to look at that before the World Cup.

"We've got some very destructive and talented batters up the top of the order."