Josh Hazlewood has set his sights on playing the last two Ashes Tests, confident his body can play through a tight turnaround for the first time in two-and-a-half years.
Hazlewood is expected to return to Australia's side for the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford on Wednesday, with Scott Boland the man likely to miss out.
Under an injury cloud before the start of this series after missing the Test Championship final, Hazlewood bowled through the first two Test wins without issue before being put on the ice for the loss at Headingley.
A bigger challenge now awaits for him.
While a series of side and Achilles injuries limited Hazlewood to four Tests in two years before this series, the other notable aspect has been his lack of back-to-back matches.
The right-arm quick has not played a Test on a short turnaround since the end of the 2020-21 summer against India.
That is the reality that will await him after Manchester, with only three days scheduled between the end of Old Trafford and Lord's.
But Hazlewood is confident it will not be an issue for him.
"Missing Headingley, the reason was probably to set me up for the last two games," Hazlewood said.
"I know they're back-to-back but we haven't bowled a lot of overs. Hopefully with that work behind me now, I'm in a better position than I was a month ago.
"That sort of puts me in a good place to hopefully get through those last two games and and play my role and do what I usually do."
England's aggressive batting has meant Australia's quicks have bowled an average of 105.4 overs between them into the series, compared to the hosts' workload of 144.
Old Trafford will bring back good memories for the seamer, having taken 6-88 for the match in 2019 to help Australia retain the Ashes.
A similar chance awaits in this Test, with a victory enough to secure Australia their first series win in England since 2001.
Hazlewood said he had been happy with how he had bowled on return from the long lay off of injuries, having taken eight wickets at 32.5 in the first two Tests.
"I have felt pretty good. I was probably a little bit underdone for that World Test Championship and then got ready for the first game," Hazlewood said.
"I didn't seem too rusty when I was out there in the middle. Once you get that big day of workload underneath you, you feel a lot better for the run.
"I felt better and better as I was going along. Hopefully after that little break, I'll coming out firing again."
