Mitchell Starc has sent the most timely of warnings to England, saying he's only just getting warmed up after returning career-best bowling figures on Sunday.
Australia's fast bowling trumpcard took 8-73 in South Australia's second innings, setting up a six-wicket Sheffield Shield win for NSW in Adelaide.
But Starc says it's not the wickets, but more his rhythm which pleased him most about his best innings haul in any form of cricket.
"It was nice to get some rhythm throughout the fixture and bowl some good balls and take a few wickets along the way," he said.
Starc was playing his first long-form game in more than seven months since suffering a foot injury during a Test in India last March.
"It was nice to get some overs under the belt, 40-odd overs, and some time in the legs out on the field ... find some nice rhythm," he said.
"We (NSW) have got another game next week against the WACAs so it's another chance to ... get ready for the first Test."
Starc took seven consecutive Redbacks wickets, after claiming two in SA's first innings as part of his 10-wicket haul.
But he said sending a message to England, who arrived in Australia on Sunday, wasn't his motivation.
"Everyone is going to be mentioning the Ashes over the next few weeks but for us it's winning games for New South Wales," he said.
But Starc conceded the buzz was building for his first Ashes series on home soil.
"There is always going to be the excitement there, I haven't played one (Ashes series) at home," he said.
"Patty (Cummins) hasn't played a Test match at home. Josh (Hazlewood), he hasn't played one (Ashes series) at home either.
"So definitely for the quickies it's exciting to play cricket in Australia, let alone an Ashes.
"For us, the next few weeks is about preparing for long-form cricket, getting some good game time in and hopefully winning some games for New South Wales.
"And then we'll talk about the Ashes."
Starc's feats on Sunday meant SA could only set the Blues 57 runs to win - they lost four wickets in the chase, including another failure to captain Steve Smith.
Smith made nine to follow his three in the first innings but vice-captain David Warner again spent valuable time at the crease, making 32 from 73 balls to complement his 83 in the first dig.
