Mitchell Starc believes Australia's powerful pace battery can potentially expose England's largely unproven top order in the five-Test home Ashes series.
Left-arm quick Starc plans to "terrorise" local batsmen when he returns to action for NSW in the domestic one-day cup on Friday after almost four months following stress-fracture foot issues.
Australia's pace stocks look strong as Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jackson Bird and James Pattinson all potentially vye for spots.
With Mark Stoneman, Dawid Malan, James Vince and Gary Ballance still to establish themselves at Test level, Starc feels Australia's quicks can replicate Mitchell Johnson's damage the last time England toured.
"I think there's probably an opportunity with a few of their younger or less-experienced guys to get on top of them, much like Mitch did to some of their batsmen through that series," Starc said.
"They've obviously got Root and Cook up the top, who have played a lot of cricket and are probably their main guys with the bat.
"The guys in the top order around them are pretty inexperienced and, hopefully, we can exploit that here in our home conditions.
Starc suggested the Australian bowlers would have little joy trying to psych out Root with any sledging.
"It doesn't seem to unsettle him with all that chat," Starc said.
"We'll have to do all the uncomforting with the ball rather than getting in his mind with words."
Starc was adamant England would be competitive even if their outstanding allrounder Ben Stokes didn't tour.
Suspended by England, Stokes is under police investigation on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm after being arrested early on September 25 outside a Bristol nightclub.
"He probably makes their team a bit more balanced, but he's not the be all and end all of their team," Starc said.
"There's plenty of other guys we need to worry about - some experienced bowlers, some experienced batsmen.
"They bat quite deep as well. You've got Mooen Ali coming in at eight, (Chris) Woakes probably coming in at nine. They are a very long batting line-up, so it's not just about one guy."
While there has already been talk of throwing a four-pronged pace attack at the tourists, Starc stressed in-form spinner Nathan Lyon had to play in all five Ashes Tests.
"I think you've got to pick him. It's just whether you can balance a team with four quicks around him," Starc said.
"There will be a lot made about Brisbane and probably Perth as well with potentially playing four quicks but I think you've got to have him in your team."
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