Spearheads Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath will bolster Australia's pace attack on Friday as the world champions ramp up an ultra-aggressive approach for their World Cup defence.

Lee and McGrath will return to tri-series action against England at the Gabba as part of a four-prong pace plan designed to blast out opponents in the quadrennial tournament in the Caribbean.

Australia suspect a series of recently re-laid West Indian pitches will offer plenty of life for the quicks at the World Cup, starting in six weeks.

The plan has already worked to a degree with Lee, McGrath, and left-armers Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Bracken exploiting inconsistent Indian wickets in the Champions Trophy in October.

The same quartet will play on Friday, with Stuart Clark rested and Cameron White again chosen ahead of a disappointed Brad Hogg as the spin-bowling all-rounder.

Adam Gilchrist, made captain for his 250th one-day international, believes the high-voltage tactic can carry the Australians through to a third successive World Cup.

"I think we all know what type of conditions have been in the Caribbean in recent years but the mail is a lot of wickets have been re-laid so they will be quite immature in the way they play," Gilchrist said.

"Hopefully the balance of the squad, if we've got four or five fast bowlers in the squad and we want to play four, if that's the right balance for those conditions, that it is quite possible.

"We've got a very well-balanced squad and a lot of options depending on what wicket confronts us."

Gilchrist will assess the Brisbane conditions on Friday before deciding upon who to entrust with the new ball out of Lee, McGrath and Bracken.

White has given the selectors extra flexibility with his hard-hitting exploits at No.7, and they now want to see the blond leg-spinner perform with the ball after bleeding runs in the opening landslide victories over England and New Zealand.

Chief selector Andrew Hilditch spoke to Hogg at length at the Gabba nets after overlooking him for the third straight match.

Gilchrist, standing in for the rested Ricky Ponting, admitted White was duelling with Hogg and Shane Watson (hamstring) for one or two middle-order positions.

"We've been really happy with the way (White) has come in this time," he said.

"He's gaining confidence with the bat and I think that's going to help his bowling along.

"I think he's cut out to be in that first XI and I think he'll find the confidence to be a part of it over the next short while."

Gilchrist also backed opening partner Matthew Hayden to flourish at his home ground after making solid starts of 27 and 28 after regaining his place from the injured Watson.

Hayden played second fiddle to the explosive wicketkeeper, dubbed the new `Master Blaster' by West Indian legend Viv Richards this week, in key opening stands of 101 and 83.

"The impact he's had, not necessarily the results he's achieved ... has been quite noticeable," Gilchrist said.

"He's made a great impression in returning to the team."

Gilchrist insisted battered England remained a dangerous outfit and was wary about the momentum of reappointed skipper Andrew Flintoff after his match-winning efforts over NZ on Tuesday in Hobart.

Australia: Adam Gilchrist (captain), Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Mike Hussey, Cameron White, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken, Glenn McGrath.

England (possible): Andrew Flintoff (capt), Andrew Strauss, Mal Loye, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Ed Joyce, Paul Nixon, Jamie Dalrymple, Monty Panesar, James Anderson, Jon Lewis, Liam Plunkett (12th man to be named).

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