Australia have snuck back into top spot on the International Cricket Council’s one-day international rankings and are back in line to be the No.1 side for the ‘official’ end of the international cricket season.

After losing the No.1 spot to South Africa last month, Australia were handed back pole position by the Proteas after they lost the fourth ODI against New Zealand, thanks to a Martin Guptill masterclass.

If the Black Caps prevail in the fifth and final ODI against South Africa in Auckland on Saturday, Australia will hold off the South Africa for the time being by a fraction of a point and lock up top spot.

But if South Africa win and adjust the series ledger to 3-2 in their favour, they’ll move ahead of Steve Smith’s men.

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The stakes are huge for both South Africa and Australia; the team at the top of the ODI rankings come April 1 receives a hefty cheque from the ICC.

South Africa dethroned Australia in February when they sealed a 5-0 series sweep of Sri Lanka on home turf.

Their 11th consecutive win in the 50-over format returned them to the No.1 spot for the first time in two years.

Australia’s lead at the top of the team rankings had been cut to just a fraction of a point following their most recent ODI series, a 0-2 Chappell-Hadlee series defeat in New Zealand.

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It was their last 50-over fixture before the ICC Champions Trophy gets underway in June.

The 2015 World Cup winners have been inconsistent in the one-day game in recent times, losing heavily to South Africa (0-5) and New Zealand (0-2) away while beating the Black Caps (3-0) and Pakistan (4-1) at home this summer.