Stoic is defined as "seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain" and for Simon Katich, it's the best tactic he can come up with right now to help get through yet another challenge to his position.
Shane Watson's form as an opener-on-trial has left Katich's career not on death row, but certainly facing another gruelling cross-examination.
Australia coach John Buchanan admitted the constant battle was taking its toll.
"It's extremely difficult personally," said Buchanan said today of Katich's predicament.
"I know the selectors have been looking very closely at that whole opening position.
"There's been a lot of conjecture about it.
"He's hurting deeply on the inside but will never project anything on the outside."
Sympathy has been pouring in from skipper Ricky Ponting, his team-mates and chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch.
While few would regard Katich's career as over, Queenslander Watson's class has been irresistible of late for selectors and presents a massive challenge to the NSW captain.
Watson's timing is impeccable, with Australia's first Champions Trophy match to be played on Wednesday in Mumbai against qualifier No.2 (to be determined overnight AEST).
Katich has been down this road before, even last month with Phil Jaques and Matthew Hayden sniffing around his job. Indeed, Katich has actually been Australia's leading scorer in one-day internationals in 2006 with 783 runs at 39.15 in 22 matches.
However, pace-bowling all-rounder Shane Watson has fired out scores of 79 and 18 as an opener in last month's tri-series in Malaysia against India and West Indies, plus a 70 in Thursday's practice match against a local side in Mumbai when Katich was rested,
Katich, 31, will be hoping to play in tomorrow's second practice match against a Mumbai XI, with pressure mounting for the left-hander to keep producing.
"It has been extremely hard (on him)," Buchanan said.
"I know Andrew Hilditch, Ricky Ponting, everybody feels that way.
"In essence Simon has done most things asked of him.
"He's been thrown in that role because that was a position the selectors deemed needed some re-think.
"At this stage he's certainly not out of the calculations.
"Simon copes with everything exceptionally well.
"All good team players do that and we've seen plenty of those along the way who suffer the hurt of either being dropped or not selected.
"But (they are) up with a smile as if nothing has changed in their world, that they are ready for the next day and that's a new challenge and they'll deal with it.
"He's a tough bloke, Kat, a very tough guy, and he's been in these situation before.
"He's been in and out of sides, he's been on the edge of sides, and it doesn't make it any easier at all. It possibly makes it harder."
Buchanan said selectors were "reasonably impressed" with Watson's 79 in Malaysia last month.
"He had another opportunity (on Thursday) to press his claims and he took that opportunity," Buchanan said.
"So it's a very important step, not only for him but for our team."
Batsman Michael Clarke, who missed Thursday's game with a minor quadricep strain, is expected to play tomorrow, but Buchanan suggested now was not the time to trial Clarke also an opener.
"One of the important things at this stage is that we don't keep throwing up all sorts of different alternatives and combinations," Buchanan said.
"But right at the moment the selectors are very keen to try to nail down what they believe might be the best openers to be picked in that final group of 15 (for the World Cup in the Caribbean in March).
"It could be Adam Gilchrist plus one plus someone like Shane Watson. That's more a question for the selectors."
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