Mitchell Johnson is to join Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle in cotton wool this week as Australia preserve their pace attack ahead of the first Ashes Test.

Leftarmer Johnson’s recall for the opening Test at the Gabba from November 21 appeared assured on Monday when he was rested from Western Australia’s team named for the Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia starting on Wednesday.

It followed Cricket Australia’s decision on Sunday to keep Harris and Siddle out of Sheffield Shield games for Queensland and Victoria respectively.

Johnson, 32, hasn’t played a Test since March but he has impressed for Australia’s ODI team in recent weeks and he also claimed five wickets in WA’s shield loss to South Australia in Perth last week.

Those figures would have looked even better had his teammates not dropped five catches off his bowling.

With Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Pat Cummins all nursing back injuries, Johnson will form an important part of Australia’s three-pronged pace attack.

The Warriors welcome back Shaun Marsh and all-rounder Nathan Coulter-Nile, but lose skipper Adam Voges, who will play in the tour game against England.

Marsh will captain the side in the absence of Voges, while Ryan Duffield has been recalled in place of Johnson.

WA claimed first-innings points against South Australia last week, but are yet to win outright this season.

Western Australia squad.

Shaun Marsh (capt), Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Michael Beer, Will Bosisto, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ryan Duffield, Mitch Marsh, Marcus North, Nathan Rimmington, John Rogers, Sam Whiteman.