Melbourne: Australia pacer Stuart Clark has dismissed India coach Gary Kirsten's recent comment that all-rounder Andrew Symonds' likely absence from next month's four-Test series would ease tension between the two sides.

In all probability, Symonds will miss Australia's tour to India after he was punished by Cricket Australia (CA) on charges of indiscipline. He is currently undergoing Professional counselling.

"People still love to see him playing cricket and people love playing against him and competing against him, because he is that type of person," Clark was quoted as saying by 'The Australian'.

Kirsten on Friday insisted that absence of the volatile all-rounder might help in reducing the tension in the upcoming series.

Off late, Symonds has had a stormy relation with both Indian players and crowds. Booed and barracked in India, he along with India spinner Harbhajan Singh was the main architects of racism row during India's Australia tour last summer.

"It's tough one because Symonds is such a larger than life character. I wouldn't have thought so," Clark said.

Clarke also held the media responsible for hyping the situation and insisted off the field there is very little tension between the Indian and Australian cricketers.

"I've said all along it's media thing.

"The sides get on well -- off the field especially. There will be a little bit of competitiveness, which I hope is any game of cricket or any sporting match between two countries. I wouldn't have thought there'd be too much niggle as far as the nasty stuff," he said.