Ben Hilfenhaus is desperate to take the new ball in the first Test at the Gabba and says Australia will put a massive target on the head of England skipper Andrew Strauss.
The left-handed opener struggled during England's 2006-07 Ashes tour, averaging 24.70, but has hit the ground running this summer with centuries against Western Australia and South Australia.
"I'm doing everything I can to make sure that I'm as best-prepared as I can be and give myself every chance to be a part of that first team."
The Tasmanian will be rested from this week's round of Shield matches and is already working on strategies to get through the defences of Strauss.
"I reckon Strauss in the top order (is the key)," Hilfenhaus said.
We'll have our plans.
"He seems like he's in pretty good nick. It's going to be a challenge for us.
"I see him as pretty big leader for them. If we can rattle him up a bit, the rest will follow."
Hilfenhaus, who took 22 wickets at 27.45 in the 2009 Ashes series, says it was "always part of the plan" for him to rest this week.
"It gives me personally a chance to be very fresh for that first Test. The body's going really well and the ball's coming out okay," said the 27-year-old, who was man of the match in Brisbane 12 months ago against West Indies but missedthe rest of the summer with a knee problem.
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