Ashleigh Gardner shone with the bat while Lauren Cheatle made a strong case for inclusion in Sunday's third and final trans-Tasman ODI as the Australian one-day squad were put through their paces in a practice-match against Victoria at Junction Oval.

The casual 40-overs apiece hit-out was slightly unusual in its timing, given Australia already hold an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game Commonwealth Bank ODI Series.

But with New Zealand contesting the annual Governor-General's XI match in Sydney, it was an ideal chance for the Australians to adjust to the Junction Oval conditions ahead of Sunday's match.

Batting first, Australia openers Rachael Haynes (61no from 60) and Alyssa Healy (54no from 61) made strong starts before retiring, as the national team posted 5-255 from their 40 overs.

But it was Gardner who shone against her own attack in the second innings. After being bowled for 16 (14) in Australia's innings, she returned for a second stint in the middle during Victoria's chase, striking a rapid-fire 80 from 60 deliveries.

The explosive allrounder cleared the boundary at Junction Oval three times during the entertaining innings, which came to an end when she became left-arm quick Lauren Cheatle's fifth victim.

It came after she was dismissed for 34 (36) in the opening ODI before being bowled by leg-spinner Amelia Kerr for a first-ball duck in Sunday's second game.

"It was nice to spend some time in the middle and put a score on the board ahead of Sunday," Gardner said after the Australians wrapped up a 77-run win.

"I felt like I haven't been hitting the ball too badly (but) the other day it wasn't ideal to be bowled first ball.

"(Batting twice) was mainly just to have some time out in the middle which I haven't had so far in this tournament.

"It was obviously nice to feel the ball coming out of the middle of my bat and thankfully score some runs as well."

Cheatle, who played her first game for Australia in almost two years in the series opener at the WACA Ground, made a claim for inclusion in the series finale when she captured 5-57 from 10 overs.

Her victims included dismissed Australian teammate Elyse Villani – who batted for home state Victoria – twice, alongside Gardner, Molly Strano and Emma Inglis.

After bowling just three overs in the first one-dayer and being unlucky to miss out on a wicket thanks to a dropped catch, Cheatle will hope to have another opportunity to impress in Sunday's match.

"She bowled really well early up," Gardner said of Cheatle. "She was swinging it quite a lot and she got to finish with five wickets plus she got me out.

"She bowled in the right areas and she bowled well with the new ball, which is an exciting sight to see."

After being bowled out for 241 in the series opener and posting 7-247 in the second match, Australia's top-order hoped to use the practice match to find their feet on a Junction Oval surface that's typically friendly for the batters.

While Haynes and Healy starred, captain Meg Lanning (33 from 39) and Ellyse Perry (21 off 20) weren't quite as prosperous, while Beth Mooney struck a 24-ball 37 before being bowled attempting to ramp Makinley Blows.

Villani was given two opportunities with the bat during Victoria's innings, dismissed for a combined 13 runs.

With the ball, Megan Schutt impressed taking 1-6 from five overs, while allrounder Delissa Kimmince picked up 3-37 from eight.

"Midge (Healy) and Rach (Haynes) bat a lot together for NSW and that partnership combination coming into the Australian side is a really exciting thing," Gardner said.

"They're both world-class batters so it was good to see them get some runs today and hopefully we'll see them do it again on Sunday.

"Playing 40 overs is really different to playing 50 overs, even though it's only 10 overs longer.

"Being able to go that little bit harder earlier and put a good total on the board (was good) and for the bowlers to bowl in the middle as well, rather than bowing in the nets."

The third and final ODI on Sunday, beginning 10.50am local, will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and the Seven Network and can be live streamed via Kayo, with news, scores and highlights on cricket.com.au and the CA Live App.