Its result would be inconsequential to the final scoreline but Australian opener Ed Cowan said his team is motivated to win the fourth Test against India in Adelaide as the hosts want to hand out an "absolute drubbing to the second best side in the world."

Australia lead the four-match series 3-0 but Cowan, who was here to visit his old family home yesterday, said there is no lack of motivation to continue with the dominance in Adelaide where the fourth game would be played from January 24.

"It's exciting that we're on the verge of something special as a team. 4-0 would be an absolute drubbing of the second best team in the world," Cowan said, referring to India's second spot in the ICC Test rankings.

The 29-year-old has made a solid start to his Test career, scoring 166 runs at an average of 41 in three matches against India and he is desperate to hold on to his place even when regular opener Shane Watson returns from injury layoff.

"He (Watson) is probably the best player in the country so they certainly do have to fit him in," Cowan said.

"It's no different to any other team, when guys are coming back you've got to hold your place in the team through weight of runs.

"How I see my job is to make it so difficult for the selectors, that Shane Watson has to bat somewhere else in the batting order. That's simply done by me going out and making runs and the rest takes care of itself," he added. 

"If they're having a discussion 'should Shane Watson be opening the batting' then I'm not doing my job."

Cowan said he would give himself a "pass mark" for his performance so far.

"Two 50s in three games ... that's OK, that's a pass, but it's not brilliant," Cowan said.

"That's why there's excitement for this Test as well, to really cement that spot and make that a really difficult conversation for the tour of the West Indies."