Johnson, who has an ankle injury, is desperately needed by the weary tourists for them to avoid taking an unbalanced side into the fixture following a string of injuries early in the seven-match tour.

James Hopes (hamstring) and Brett Lee (elbow) have been ruled out of game two and, if Johnson was to also miss out, it would leave Australia's lower order extremely vulnerable, given none of Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus or Doug Bollinger can offer anywhere near as much with the bat.

Shaun Marsh is in line for a recall in place of Hopes, though it remains unclear exactly where the Western Australian left-hander will bat.

Captain Ricky Ponting had feared Johnson would be a definite non-starter, but coach Tim Nielsen said after training that the left-armer was now a decent chance.

''Mitchell's actually woken up a lot better than we thought he would be this morning ... after yesterday's treatment he was a bit sore,'' he said yesterday.

''So it's really pleasing he was able to get up today and train.

''We'll see how he pulls up after training today, but all indications are that he may well be available for tomorrow [tonight].''

Hopes's hamstring strain is regarded as the most serious ailment, and he will not be available for at least the next two fixtures.

NSW all-rounder Moises Henriques has been called into the squad as cover for Hopes and is likely to get his chance as Australia's present team structure needs two multi-skilled players in the middle.

Lee's injury is considered minor, but Ponting said it was serious enough to keep him out of tonight's match.

Having voiced concern at the dreadfully packed schedule, Ponting admitted the injury-riddled start to this tour was a possible symptom of the year his men had endured.

''Up until the game the other day we haven't had a bad run of injuries,'' he said. ''We have actually coped with it pretty well but it might just be starting to take its toll now.''