England are likely to choose between spinners Monty Panesar and Ashley Giles when they reveal their Test side in the final warm-up against South Australia.
Monty Panesar looks set to play in the first Ashes Test after being picked ahead of Ashley Giles for the final warm-up against South Australia.
Coach Duncan Fletcher has said the team that plays in Adelaide will be the preferred Test line-up.
Coach Duncan Fletcher has said the team that plays in Adelaide will be the preferred Test line-up.
After Marcus Trescothick went home, batsmen Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood are all set to play.
Fast bowler Steve Harmison will sit out the warm-up game after waking up with "tightness" in his side but his absence is understood to be a precaution.
Veteran Jason Gillespie and Shaun Tait, part of Australia's Test squad, lead the home attack in the three-day game.
Adelaide and Brisbane, where the first Test begins on 23 November, are historically different surfaces, with the South Australia venue more of a batting surface.
I wished it hadn't been under these circumstances but it looks as though my spot is safe Paul Collingwood Collingwood column
Brisbane is considered currently the fastest wicket in the country, confirmed by Australia's decision to pick just one spinner in their 13-man Test squad.
As England look likely to go with four pace bowlers, including all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, and a spinner, they must make a straight choice between Panesar and Giles.
Giles has not played Test cricket in a year, having undergone three operations on his hip, but offers a better batting option at eight in the order.
Panesar has taken 32 wickets in 10 Tests since then and is seen as the more attacking option.
England's decision to go with Geraint Jones - considered a better batsman - as wicket-keeper over Chris Read makes it more likely Panesar will play.
Panesar hopes his experience last year, when he attended a cricket academy in Adelaide run by South Australia captain Darren Lehmann, help his hopes of a Test place.
"The pitches are slightly different and there's a different ball. I've experienced that before.
"Since I've been here things have gone pretty well so hopefully I'll continue to build on that in the first Test," he told BBC Sport.
England have got class bowlers and batsmen so it's just [a question of] how they play in Australian conditions Darren LehmannSouth Australia captain Lehmann profiles England
Collingwood admitted England's decisions on their batting line-up had been made easier by Trescothick's return home.
"I wished it hadn't been under these circumstances but it looks as though my spot in the team is safe.
"For the last year, myself, Ian Bell and Alastair Cook have been competing for what we thought were only two spots," Collingwood told BBC Sport.
"Now at the last moment, there are enough places available for us all."
A strong South Australia line-up features former Test batsmen Lehmann and Matthew Elliott, and young star Mark Cosgrove.
Lehmann is looking forward to seeing his young side, particularly pace bowler Shaun Tait, perform against England.
"We're excited about him - he bowls at 150kph [93mph] plus and they're not easy to face," he said of Tait.
"England have got class bowlers and batsmen so it's just [a question of] how they play in Australian conditions.
"We haven't had a tour game in Adelaide for years. To play against England and see these young guys will be great fun."
South Australia (from): D Lehmann (capt), M Elliott, C Bailey, C Borgas, M Cosgrove, D Cullen, S Deitz (wkt), C Ferguson, J Gillespie, D Harris, P Rofe, S Tait.
South Australia: C B Bailey, C J Borgas, M J Cosgrove, D J Cullen S A Deitz (Wkt), M T G Elliot, C J Ferguson, J N Gillespie J N Harris, D S Lehmann (Capt), S W Tait.
England (likely): A Flintoff (capt), A Strauss, A Cook, I Bell, K Pietersen, P Collingwood, G Jones, A Giles or M Panesar, S Harmison, M Hoggard, J Anderson.
England: A J Strauss, A N Cook, I R Bell, P D Collingwood K P Pietersen, A Flintoff (Capt), G O Jones (Wkt), S I Mahmood M J Hoggard, J M Anderson, M S Panesar.
