Mike Hussey will lead Australia against his old county Northamptonshire on Friday, well briefed on how to try to get the tourists' Ashes campaign back on track.

The form of Mitchell Johnson, pace spearhead in the continued absence of the still injured Brett Lee, is perhaps the most pressing issue facing Australia in this three-day match preceding the third npower Test at Edgbaston next week.

But in degrees, runs for opener Phillip Hughes, the fitness of batting all-rounder Shane Watson and seamer Stuart Clark - both returning from injury - and his own batting form will be vying for attention in Hussey's mind.

With Ricky Ponting rested, however, perhaps Hussey's most important task will be the management of Johnson - whose Ashes figures so far, of eight wickets at more than 40 in two Tests, are nowhere near what was anticipated after a successful winter tour of South Africa.

The left-armer's slingy action makes accuracy a likely problem, and he went for more than six an over in the first innings at Lord's - where England won easily to go 1-0 up in the five-match series.

Hussey is hoping to achieve a balance for Johnson against Northamptonshire at the County Ground, between required match practice and the retention of necessary freshness for the challenges ahead.

"I don't want to bowl him into the ground," he said.

"There's only a week before the Test starts, so I don't want him punching out 25-30 overs in an innings."

Hussey is encouraged by what he has seen of Johnson in practice since the Lord's Test ended on Monday.

"He seems pretty comfortable. He was pretty focused at training - and he and (bowling coach) Troy Cooley are very clear on what they need to work on," Australia's stand-in captain reports.

"We hope he can come into the game in a good frame of mind, clear on what he wants to work on - and get his confidence right up for that next Test."

As for Hughes - 57 runs from three Ashes innings are no great recommendation of his talents either - Hussey insists he has 'no worries'.

Hughes' eccentric technique is far from conventional for any batsman, let alone an opener, and there have been rumblings since Steve Harmison saw him off cheaply for the England Lions in both innings of the tour match at Worcester three weeks ago that he may struggle this summer.

Hussey, however, is having none of that.

"He's going great and he's a great guy to have around the group, a very relaxed character," he said.

"Watching him in the nets, he's playing well. With just a little bit of luck along the way, I'm sure you'll see a pretty big score just around the corner. I'm not concerned about him at all."