Australia fast bowler Brett Lee hopes to be back fit by the third Ashes Test after being ruled out of the opening match.

Australia will have to revamp their bowling attack for the npower series opener in Cardiff after it was confirmed that Lee's injured side would prevent him bowling for around a fortnight - making a return at Edgbaston later this month the most likely option.

Yesterday afternoon physio Alex Kountouris examined scans on the rib problem suffered in the draw with England Lions and discovered a strain in one of his abdominal muscles.

Although the Australians are not completely ruling him out, they admit the chances of him returning at Lord's next week are slim and remain thankful they monitored the discomfort in its early stages given that playing through it could have resulted in a worst-case scenario of a 10-week lay-off.

"Playing any Test match for Australia is the most amazing thing," Lee said, reflecting on his disappointment.

"You grow up as a kid dreaming of playing Test cricket - it's the pinnacle. "But to play in an Ashes series is what it is all about. To me it's the true test.

"I am gutted not to be there for that first Test but I am determined to bounce back.

"Normally I would have played through it but with the Test matches here this summer and what it means not only to myself but to the team, I didn't want to jeopardise that."

Lee, by far the most experienced of the tourists' attack with 310 wickets in 76 Tests, hopes to be back running in a couple of days and the injury could be re-scanned when the Australians arrive in London next week.

He put himself into contention for a return to international action with six first-innings victims against England's second string, having been sidelined prior to this tour with foot and ankle injuries.

And he remained upbeat when he insisted: "This is only a small obstacle put in front of me.

"If it was my ankle and something of a structural thing I would be a lot more concerned.

"Being a fast bowler, injuries are the nature of the beast and I will be working hard to look to bowl again around the two-week mark - and reassess after that."

Vice-captain Michael Clarke, who alongside Lee is one of the four men on this tour who played in the defeat here in 2005, bemoaned: "Brett has worked really hard over the last few months, getting himself back.

"The most important thing for us is to try to get Brett as fit as possible. He has been a wonderful player for Australia for such a long time."

Clarke, who shrugged at the decision to host the prestigious opening match in Cardiff rather than at a more traditional venue, reckons an Ashes series is like no other.

"It is important to realise how special this kind of series still is to someone like Ricky Ponting, who has played nearly 140 Tests and is an amazing player," Clarke said.

"He is as excited as I have ever seen him in my career. He is as keen as mustard for this series and he is not on his own."