England ready for Perth showdown

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England face the massive task of trying to bowl out Australia twice on what could be a flat wicket when the third Test starts in Perth on Thursday.

The Waca is England's least successful hunting ground in Australia, where they have won just once in 10 attempts.

But while a draw would not see them relinquish the Ashes, they would then need to win both the final two Tests to hang onto the urn they won in 2005.

England have refused to rule out the possibility of another unchanged side.

The pressure to unleash their most talented spin bowler Monty Panesar - either as a direct replacement for Ashley Giles or instead of James Anderson - has reached fever pitch.

But England do not tend to give clues about team selection on the eve of a Test and captain Andrew Flintoff has played a dead bat to questions on the issue.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: "All the lads have staked a claim to play in this Test.

"It's been intense. The bowlers are running in, bowling quick. We will sit down, myself the coach and the management, and bounce ideas around.

A first Ashes Test for Monty Panesar in Perth is far from certain

"But we can't have a knee-jerk reaction. The side perfomed well in the last game and are a fine bunch of players."

Flintoff suggested a siege mentality when asked about the rumours of a split in the camp.

He said: "I've not bought a newspaper for the past week and a half or so.

"We can't control what's been written in the media. We're just doing our job to the best of our ability.

"I'm learning. When you lose games of cricket there is criticism flying around and I am prepared to take my share of criticism."

Following his team's debacle on the last day at Adelaide, the England captain is acutely aware of the need for his side to keep their finger on the pulse at all times.

He said: "We've got to play well for five days. Within Test matches there are times when you can gain an initiative and it's about driving that initiative home.

"It's a case of getting on a roll, taking a few wickets and applying some pressure."

Whether the pitch - not expected to offer the pace of Waca tracks of old - will allow his attack to work wonders remains to be seen.

The prevailing afternoon breeze - the 'Fremantle Doctor' - could assist swing bowlers and there has been talk that there will be some assistance for spinners throughout.

But the wicket is unlikely to deteriorate unduly.

Michael Hussey moves up to number four in the Aussie line-up

Ricky Ponting has finalised his side with the all-rounder Andrew Symonds replacing the retired Damien Martyn.

But he is worried about the pitch.

He said: "I've spoken for the last three or four years now about how a lot of our wickets and grounds seem to losing a lot of their character.

"The beauty of Australia is how you get contrasting conditions in different states.

"What I don't want is to have all the grounds losing their character and becoming very, very similar. It's not good for the game I don't think."

After his inspection of the Test wicket, he said: "There is a bit more moisture in it than most times here so it might be a bit slow the first morning.

"But I think it will harden up reasonably quickly. There might be some bounce."

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Australia: Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (capt.), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist (wkt), Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath.

England (from): Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff (capt.), Geraint Jones (wkt), Ashley Giles, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, James Anderson, Sajid Mahmood, Monty Panesar.