Just like four summers ago, Australia's win in the first one-dayer in Canberra on Thursday means they have retained the Ashes with two matches to play.

England however struck back in 2017 to win the final two T20Is and leave Australia having drawn the series 8-all.

Opener Rachael Haynes says avoiding a similar flat finish is the aim heading into Sunday's second ODI at Junction Oval in Melbourne.

"We didn't finish off as well as we would've liked," Haynes said of 2017.

"We played some good cricket but we just opened the door and it felt like we allowed them to finish pretty strongly, I guess walk away feeling like they drew the series.

"From our point of view we want to make sure that we win."

English fast bowler Anya Shrubsole was part of that 2017 campaign and said replicating the feat was the primary goal for the tourists now the Ashes cannot be won.

"A huge thing we want to do is try and level the series up and leave Australia with it 8-8," Shrubsole said.

"It's obviously not what we came to do.

"We came to try and win the Ashes back but there's still a huge amount to play for in this series and with the World Cup around the corner as well."

Thursday's batting hero Beth Mooney is unlikely to feature on Sunday after leaving the field with quad tightness during England's innings, especially with next month's World Cup in New Zealand looming.

"I wouldn't be surprised if our staff took a little bit of a conservative approach with Moons just given how crucial she is to our lineup," Haynes said.

"I don't think they've selected the team yet but I wouldn't be surprised if she was rested just to make sure she's raring to go with what's ahead."

Australia open their World Cup campaign against England on March 5 in Hamilton and Haynes said that would definitely add an extra element of intrigue over the last two matches of the Ashes.

"It's sort of a bit of a tricky time because you want to make sure you're peaking at the right moment," Haynes said.

"You don't want to peak too early and then all of a sudden you get to a World Cup and run out of gas.

"It might even be interesting to see how both teams approach these last couple of games. Whether there's a bit of cat and mouse in terms of how they mix up their attacks or lineups in general in teams.

"It could be something that each opposition does."

Australian Associated Press