Australia will be without the rested Mitchell Johnson and injury victim Shane Watson in their first tour match against Sussex.

All-rounder Watson is waiting for the results of a scan on his knee, and although captain Ricky Ponting still expects him to be fit for the match against England Lions next week, Australia have not completely ruled out the possibility of calling up extra batting cover.

Key pace bowler Johnson, meanwhile, is reportedly being rested because of the heavy workload he is expected to have to bear for the rest of the summer.

A reciprocal agreement with England's 2006/07 tourists Down Under means a 12-a-side match is scheduled, and there will be no first-class status for this four-day fixture at Hove.

It is nonetheless taken as read that most of the 12 picked on Thursday are highly likely to be the ones chosen to take on the Lions at Worcester, and then England themselves in the first Test at Cardiff, which begins on July 8.

Ponting, who announced his team in a press conference at the County Ground on Tuesday, has made it clear the stakes will be high for all concerned on the south coast this week.

"We have got the right to play 12 players in this game, but that does not mean we will be using it as practice," he spelled out.

"We will be using this game to get used to the conditions.

"We believe this wicket will be the most like Cardiff anywhere in the country, so it will be a good opportunity for us as batsmen to get used to the pace and bounce, maybe a bit of spin."

Off-spinner Nathan Hauritz is the only specialist slow bowler in the Australia squad, and Ponting anticipates a significant four days coming up for him, in particular.

"It will be a good opportunity for our bowlers to be able to experience those conditions, working out the lengths and line they need to bowl," he predicted.

"It will be especially useful for Hauritz to get good exposure to the sort of conditions.

"We will play the game to win. It will not be a four-day boring game; it will be a good quality cricket match, which both sides and the fans will enjoy."

Ponting is refusing to allow himself or any of his team to become distracted by rumours that Cardiff is likely to favour spin over seam - with England contemplating selection and gameplan to suit.

"A lot of what I am hearing about the wicket down there (in Cardiff) is that England could play two spinners," he acknowledged.

"But a lot of it will rest on (Andrew) Flintoff's fitness and how he comes through the next few weeks.

"If they play two spinners, they would want him to be their third quick bowler - so I think a lot rests on that."