Steve Harmison is prepared for hard work for scant reward if it means England are successful in India.
Harmison has remained the spearhead of the Test team since his incredible series in the Caribbean two years ago, when his glut of dismissals propelled him to the summit of the world bowling rankings.
He took an England record of 67 Test wickets in 2004 and maintaining that rate of productivity has proved difficult.
In spite of reduced statistics, however, Harmison still averages three wickets per Test since then and enters what will be the most arduous of series in the belief he is still improving.
"I feel I have got better throughout my whole Test career, I am improving as a bowler," Harmison, 27, said. "Nobody bowls well every single time they go out to play. Whatever the captain wants, I will try to do it to the best of my ability."
So often the strike bowler in English conditions, Harmison was the stock bowler at times in the 2-0 defeat to Pakistan before Christmas and may be employed in a similar role here, particularly given the absence of reliable Warwickshire spinner Ashley Giles.
"I learnt in Pakistan that you have to bowl to the situation you are put in," he said. "If it means containing, I will contain and if it means going at somebody, I will try to bring as much energy to it as I can."
Harmison's hostility against Pakistan did not necessarily reap the rewards it deserved. But, typically of this close-knit and clinical England side which has developed under Vaughan and coach Duncan Fletcher, Harmison does not bemoan his misfortune.
"Sometimes it can be like that: you will bowl well for a spell of a few Test matches and get three or four wickets, then bowl like a shower and get four or five very quickly," he said.
"I got five wickets in the first innings of the Ashes last summer but it meant nothing to me because we got beat. I only got 12 more but we won 2-1, so I was chuffed to bits.
"I just want to contribute to my team and as long as I can say to Vaughanie 'look, I am giving everything I have got' that suits me."
Harmison also has a 100 per cent appearance record since beginning a training regime at Newcastle United's training ground in early 2004, a stretch of 26 Tests for his country and one for the World XI for good measure.
He has also managed to stay in good health on this trip, while four others currently struggle with sickness.
Spinners Ian Blackwell, Monty Panesar and Shaun Udal have all been affected by a stomach bug in the past couple of days, as has fast bowler Simon Jones.
The first two did take part in the final net session ahead of the first-class contest with an Indian Board President's side which begins today but Jones' state will be of most concern.
Ideally, England want Welshman Jones to undergo a stern examination against quality opposition, following ankle surgery in the autumn.
The standard of the opposition will be tweaked up in Baroda, following the 238-run practice- match win earlier this week, with eight of the players on duty for the host's full internationals.
Wasim Jaffer and Gautam Gambhir face a bat-off at the top to replace the injured Yuvraj Singh in the Test squad while the selectors are also considering Suresh Raina, who plays in the middle-order.
The temperature will also be in the ascendancy - it has been 39 degrees in recent days - and Harmison said: "It is going to be the hottest conditions I have played in."
