Travis Head believes Australia thoroughly deserve their World Test Championship spot after locking it down with a memorable win in India.
Australia have been well placed to reach the decider for most of the WTC cycle, losing just one Test from November 2021 before touring India.
Defeat in the first two Tests on the subcontinent put their spot in some jeopardy, they just needed to avoid suffering a 4-0 whitewash.
But Head played a major role in Australia securing their spot, smashing an unbeaten 49 on Friday to power the tourists to a famous nine-wicket triumph.
"Think we've played extremely well for two years so it's nice to lock that in," Head said on Friday.
"Think we've deserved that ... having two subcontinent tours, and two pretty successful ones (in Pakistan and Sri Lanka).
"I guess other people have different experiences of the subcontinent but I come here with full expectation of winning the series so it's a weird feeling that we've lost the first two and now be 2-1 down.
"There's still a lot to play for, we've cemented our WTC and we've got another opportunity at drawing the series.
"Think we saw in the Ashes in England (in 2019), drawing the series what that meant.
"We still come here to win the series, guess that's gone, but there's still a hell of a lot to play for."
It will be Australia's first WTC final after they missed out in 2021 when New Zealand stunned India to be crowned the inaugural champions.
India will almost certainly be Australia's opponents for the match to be played at The Oval from June 7-11.
Head was thrilled to be able to bounce back after Australia were humiliated by India during the first two Tests in Nagpur and Delhi.
It was just India's third Test defeat at home from their last 45 matches dating back more than a decade.
"When the game's in the balance the home team, around the world, they are able to put the foot down and take control of that game," Head said.
"It's about how as an opposition you can make the most of them.
"We haven't been able to do that, but I think this game we were able to - once we got control we were able to keep control throughout."
Head's nerveless 49 not out from 53 balls added evidence that he plays his best in Asia batting at the top of the order, following his promotion to open after David Warner's exit from the tour.
It is a dramatic turnaround for Head, who was dropped for the first Test in Nagpur due to Australia's worry about him facing spin in India.
He was recalled for the second Test, top-scoring with a rapid 43 during Australia's infamous second-innings collapse in Delhi.
