SYDNEY: Inexperience playing on the sub-continent will make Australia`s bid to topple top-ranked India in the October`s Test series even tougher, senior batsman Simon Katich said on Monday.

The two-Test series in October will precede the Ashes home defence against England, which starts the following month in Brisbane, with India remaining the number one Test nation despite being humbled by Sri Lanka in Galle last week.

India lead the ICC Test ratings from South Africa with Australia third.

Although Australia`s last Test tour of India was two years ago, only seven players from that squad comprise the current one.

Katich, the only Australian batsman to average over 40 in this month`s drawn two-Test series against Pakistan in England, said Australia would have a difficult task in India, where they lost last time in a four-Test series.

\\\\\\\"It will be very tough,\\\\\\\" the opening batsman said upon returning home on Monday.

\\\\\\\"We were there in 2008, lost 2-0 and found it hard work and we are back at two of the venues we were at in 2008.

\\\\\\\"There`s no doubt they have got a very good side, they love playing at home, they will have their home crowd supporting them.

\\\\\\\"We do have obviously quite a few young guys stepping into Test cricket now who haven`t played in India before, so that will be a test for them, but it`s going to be a good challenge.\\\\\\\"

Katich said Australia`s two Test rookies, allrounder Steve Smith and wicketkeeper Tim Paine, performed brilliantly against Pakistan and felt each had a bright future in the five-day game.

But he also acknowledged Australia`s specialist pacemen, Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Doug Bollinger, weren`t at their best against Pakistan, despite having conducive bowling conditions.

\\\\\\\"I guess the guys probably would have been a little bit disappointed, but they were all trying and you can`t fault their efforts,\\\\\\\" Katich said.

\\\\\\\"They all put in and tried their hardest, it just didn`t happen, so hopefully they will learn from that and be better for it.\\\\\\\"

BDST: 1424HRS, July 26, 2010