Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has called on the Australian public to support suspended stars Steve Smith and David Warner upon their approaching returns to the national fold.
Warner and Smith's year-long bans for ball-tampering expire on March 29, and the former Test leaders are considered certainties to be reinstated for Australia.
Tampering co-conspirator Cameron Bancroft's nine-month exile concluded last December.
MORE: South Africa v Sri Lanka: Proteas collapse gives tourists hope in Durban
But despite the time that has passed since the incident in Cape Town, many cricket fans remain angry, with Warner the most unpopular culprit.
Clarke wants the public to clean the slate and commend the trio for the way they've copped their sanctions without complaint.
"I hope that the Australian public really gets behind the men and we respect that they have suffered a very heavy punishment," Clarke told Fox Sports News.
"The other thing as well, let's not forget, they put their hand up when the ACA were thinking about fighting the bans, they said, 'Nup, we're going to take it."
Clarke, whom Smith succeeded as Test skipper, says Smith and Warner – and possibly Bancroft – simply have to be included in the Test team for the Ashes in August and September.
Though he realises there may be tension between the players given the fallout from the scandal, Clarke is adamant the pros of having them in the squad negate any potential cons.
"It's going to be really interesting to see how the three of them go when they're back in one team together," Clarke said.
"[The question is] how is the relationship between Warner and Smith, or Bancroft and Warner?
"But for Australian cricket, there's absolutely no doubt we need them back."
Smith and Warner are clearly the country's best batsmen; their respective Test averages of 61.37 and 48.20 make them starters in just about any XI on the planet.
And, according to Clarke, that's all that should matter.
"They deserve to come back because they've done their crime, they've suffered their time," Clarke said.
"They'll put in the work that's required. They'll score runs.
"There's no doubt about it – they'll walk back into that team and perform straight away."
However, Clarke says those that think Smith and Warner will turn Australia back into a powerhouse are in for a rude shock.
“We’re putting a lot of expectations and a lot of pressure on Steve Smith and David Warner to come back [and] all of our problems will be fixed when they come back," he said.
"The reality is we have got to No.5 in the world with Smith and Warner in the team. Sports teams are a lot bigger than one or two players.”
The pair's returns look likely to be delayed because of elbow injuries, with reports claiming they won't be fit for the tail-end of an ODI series against Pakistan when their bans finish late next month.