Australia are planning to face James Anderson in the Boxing Day Test - but will be delighted if they are forced to have a rethink.

Anderson's sore side appeared to give him little discomfort in an hour's bowling in the MCG nets as England held their first practice session on Friday since their third-Test defeat in Perth.

It may be Sunday morning before the tourists know for sure that their pace spearhead is going to take part at the MCG.

But Australia are assuming Anderson will be to the fore in England's four-man attack for a match which will begin with the Ashes score 1-1 and two to play.

Michael Clarke today gave an upbeat bulletin on Ricky Ponting's fitness, after the Australia captain batted for the first time since he broke his left little finger at the WACA last weekend.

As for England, their hosts know that if Anderson were not available plans to possibly rest Steven Finn would have to be shelved - and Andrew Strauss would have to get by without both his original first-choice new-ball bowlers for this series, Stuart Broad already out of the reckoning with his own more serious side injury.

Vice-captain Clarke said: "I think they'll miss Anderson if he's not fit, no doubt.

"It'll definitely be harder for their attack. On a big stage, a very important Test match, to lose such a big player, it would definitely put a dent in their team.

"But I'm very confident that Anderson will be fit to play."

Of England's other seamers, Clarke has been impressed by the two tall men - Finn and Chris Tremlett, both towering close to 6ft 8in.

"Tremlett did really well, grabbing his opportunity in Perth, and Finn has done well in this series too," he added.

"Anderson is probably the leader of their attack, the most experienced, but I think they've all got a big part to play.

"(Graeme) Swann is a very good spin bowler and will definitely play a part on day four and day five at least, on this wicket."

Clarke would lead Australia in Ponting's absence, but does not believe he will have to.

"We're all hopeful and confident," he reported.

"Unless they cut his finger off, it's going to be really hard to leave 'Punter' out.

"He's going to have to wait until tomorrow to see how it pulls up after having a bat today.

"But he's pretty happy with how things went."

Ponting will have to move out of the firing line in the slip cordon, and will deploy himself next to the bowler.

"Ricky definitely won't field in the slips. He'll probably field at mid-off or mid-on," added Clarke.

"But as long as you're pretty close to seeing the line the bowlers are bowling, it's probably better for the bowlers that Punt's there to be able to talk to them as well."

Fit or not, Ponting needs to arrest a dip in form soon - having made only 22 runs in four innings since an unbeaten half-century in the drawn first Test in Brisbane.

Clarke has fared a little better but nowhere near as well as he and his country would wish.

"It hasn't been great," he admitted.

"I thought I batted pretty well in the second innings in Adelaide. I made 80-odd, which is nice.

"I was disappointed to get out in the last over of the day there. I felt very good in the second innings in Perth as well.

"I feel like I'm doing all the work. I feel like I'm training hard and hope there are some runs coming for me for Christmas this year.

"I certainly don't feel like I'm out of form. I feel like I'm hitting them pretty well - I just haven't got a big score yet.

"I feel like I'm doing all the right things. It's just a matter now of getting that result."

There is no better place for an Australian batsman to return to his best than this occasion, in front of an expected 90,000-plus sell-out crowd.

"The Boxing Day Test is always very special," said Clarke.

"Everyone is pretty excited, and probably a bit more excited after winning in Perth as well."