Towering paceman Chris Tremlett will get an early chance to press for an Ashes Test place as England open their tour Down Under against a Western Australia Chairman's XI in Perth on Thursday.
Captain Alastair Cook says a place is up for grabs in England's pace attack behind first-choice quicks Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad and has given the incentive to Tremlett, Steven Finn and Boyd Rankin to go after it.
Broad has a back complaint and was left out of the three-day tour opener, which will give coach Andy Flower the chance to see all three of England's giant fast bowlers go head to head.
Cook, also troubled by a back complaint, will miss out on the tour opener along with Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Swann with England to be led by wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
Pietersen has been given more time to acclimatise to Australian conditions after linking up late with the team, while spinner Swann has also been given a rest.
Tremlett has had past success bowling on Australian wickets and proved a handful, taking 17 wickets in three Tests on England's last tour Down Under three years ago.
"The first week or so everyone is a little tentative and going through the gears," the Surrey bowler said.
"But when I go into the warm-up games and Test matches, I'll be throwing myself into it and not holding back because I want to give myself the best chance of playing in the first Test.
