Ed Cowan has strongly hinted he’ll bat at No.3 for Australia in the first Ashes Test starting next week, but the left-hander is still looking to put the issue beyond doubt in the second innings of the tour match against Worcestershire at New Road.

Cowan is 18 not out and Phil Hughes unbeaten on one at lunch on day three, with the Australians 1-47 and holding a commanding 159-run lead.

Worcestershire’s first innings came to an abrupt end on Thursday morning, all out for 284, with Ryan Harris (2-65) and James Faulkner (2-57) finishing the job started by Jackson Bird (4-48).

Cowan was sent in to open the batting with Chris Rogers, with Shane Watson’s 109 in the first innings enough to earn him a rest.

Rogers was out lbw for 26, but after being dropped at first-slip on nought, Cowan is looking to back-up his first innings 58 with another score.

Cowan believes he’s in the box seat to beat Usman Khawaja to the No.3 spot for the first Test at Trent Bridge starting on Wednesday.

“With Chris Rogers coming into the squad they were always eyeing off that number three spot for me, so it was good to get some runs hopefully to nail that down. Things are still looking pretty positive for me in terms of playing that first Test,” Cowan told Sky Sports Radio.

“His (Lehmann’s) communication to all the batters has been score so many runs that we can’t not pick you. There was some pretty good communication before the tour that that was what they were thinking of doing. It wasn’t much of a shock to me.

Cowan said he was disappointed to be demoted from his favoured position of opening.

“I was disappointed because I felt it was a job I was improving at,” he said.

“I felt I was one of the few guys who still had their head above water in India.

“(But) as I said to the selectors I’m happy to bat anywhere. If selected, it’s a great honour to play in an Ashes Test. Just suck it up and get on with it.”