Test bowler Peter Siddle has warned Australia to underestimate short-format specialists Sri Lanka at their peril in their three-game Gillette T20 INTL Series, starting on Sunday.

Sri Lanka commence their tour of Australia in Canberra tonight - the first men's international match of the summer - against the Prime Minister's XI, who will be captained by Siddle and allrounder Dan Christian.

The tourists will be led by veteran fast bowler Lasith Malinga and Siddle backed them to come out firing under the lights at Manuka Oval.

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"It's always a big one for them as it's their first real big hit-out before the series starts, which is always a very serious one," Siddle told AAP.

"There will be a few guys looking to impress and get selected and then there's a few guys fine-tuning and getting ready to go.

"They're always a strong side and that's what distinguishes Sri Lanka in white-ball cricket, they've always been a lot stronger at the shorter formats so I'm expecting a tough contest."

Manuka Oval is regarded as a batting paradise and Siddle said he'd try to embrace the testing conditions, while also tipping fireworks from big-hitting batsman Chris Lynn.

@WoodsideEnergy pic.twitter.com/sXth8S0Fqd Plenty of T20 stars in action tomorrow night as the Prime Minister's XI take on Sri Lanka at Manuka Oval! Live on Fox Cricket + Kayo. #PMXIvSL October 23, 2019

"It's a lot easier to embrace when it's a T20 compared to a long-format game, that's for sure, but it's always been a nice place to watch blokes bat," Siddle said.

"Hopefully that's the case again and we watch Chris Lynn go off, that would make it an exciting night.

"So fingers crossed he can, and we set a big total then see what we can do with the ball."

The match will see some of the best credentialled T20 players in the world take to the stage, led by fast-bowling legend Malinga, big hitter Lynn and veteran allrounder Christian, who has won seven domestic T20 titles around the world.

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T20 specialists Chris Green and Fawad Ahmed will also take part for the PM’s XI as they eye a spot in Australia’s squad for next year’s World Cup, while Sri Lanka’s batting will be led by Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella.

The Sri Lankans start their T20 series against Australia in Adelaide on Sunday afternoon before matches at the Gabba and MCG complete the series.

The PM's XI v Sri Lanka match will be broadcast live on Fox Cricket and streamed live via Kayo on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app. Play starts at 7.10pm AEDT

Prime Minister's XI: Dan Christian (co-captain), Peter Siddle (co-captain), Chris Lynn, Ben Cutting, Jason Sangha, Fawad Ahmed, Jordan Silk, Daniel Fallins, Harry Nielsen, Chris Green, Djali Bloomfield, Daniel Leerdam (12th man)

Sri Lanka squad: Lasith Malinga (c), Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Oshada Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha.