Tendulkar plays a fluent stroke during his 74 against Pakistan A

Then, India won both the Test and one-day series but Tendulkar said: "Pakistan have been playing well and have carried a good momentum.

"They've shown the right attitude, so I think this will be more competitive."

The three-Test series beginning in Lahore on Friday is the third in two years between the teams, who contested only three Tests between 1990-2003.

"It's important to find a balance so it is not an India-Pakistan overdose, but people shouldn't be deprived," said India' master batsman.

Shoaib Akhtar inspired Pakistan to beat England with a stunning array of brutal pace and devious slower deliveries late last year, but Tendulkar insists there are other dangers awaiting in the home attack.

"It's not solely dependent on Shoaib," he said.

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"He bowled exceptionally well against England and looked good, but he will need to take a fresh start in this series.

"Basically we have to be on our toes whether we are playing Shoaib or whoever, you just need one ball to get out.

"I would like to focus more on what we have to do rather than what they will do to us."

The most important factor would be how much and what I bring to the team Sachin Tendulkar

Tendulkar needs only 145 to complete 1,000 runs against Pakistan, having made his Test debut against them in Karachi in 1989.

In that match he was bowled by another debutant, Waqar Younis, for 15, but in the second Test he made the first of five fifties against his team's rivals.

He has also made two centuries, with the highlight an unbeaten 194 that set up an innings victory for India when the old adversaries met for the first time in over five years in 2004.

Asked about his intentions for the series ahead, Tendulkar said: "It doesn't matter whether I play aggressive cricket, attacking cricket or defensive cricket.