Come Thursday, the ACT Comets product and Australian off-spinner will be pitched into the middle of a fiery Ashes series as Australia bids to take a 2-0 lead in its quest to regain the urn.

''It's pretty surreal when you think of it, that back then I was working there and bowling to them, and now I'm competing in the Ashes,'' Lyon said.

''It's an exciting time and I'm looking forward to getting down to Adelaide and the new venue. It sounds amazing so I can't wait to experience it.''

In 2010, while Lyon was rolling his arm over in the nets, Kevin Pietersen (227) and Alastair Cook (148) put on a masterclass with the bat during England's mammoth first innings total of 5-620 declared.

The visitors went on to win the match by an innings and 71 runs on their way to claiming the Ashes.

But the momentum is with the home team this time around and an Australian victory will put Michael Clarke's men in an almost unassailable position on their way to the third Test at the WACA Ground.

Clarke was slugged 20 per cent of his match fee for sledging English tailender James Anderson in the big win at the Gabba last week. But as far as Lyon sees it, sledging is part and parcel of an Ashes contest.

''They get stuck into us and we get stuck into them,'' Lyon said. ''I thought it was fantastic that Michael was standing up for George Bailey, who was making his debut in the Test match arena.

''We know where the line is, but we don't go over it.''

Lyon has remained resilient after he was left out of the first two Tests in the winter Ashes series in England in favour of Ashton Agar.

He did enough in the final three Tests to be retained for the Gabba, where he claimed two crucial wickets on the final day.

His economy has been just as important. Lyon conceded just 63 runs from 29 overs, allowing speedster Mitch Johnson to shake up England with a brutal barrage of pace bowling.

''It was the best atmosphere I've been involved with,'' Lyon said. ''I was pretty lucky to get a good view watching Mitch bowl quite fast at the other end.

''Mitch is a world-class bowler, so it's exciting to see him do it in the first Ashes Test.''

Lyon's return of 89 wickets from 26 Tests at an average of 32 is a great haul for the former Wests/UC captain. His latest honour was leading the Australian team in its famous victory song after Michael Hussey passed on the tradition when he retired.

''It was a very proud moment in my life,'' Lyon said.