Australia will resume at 6-326 on Saturday in the third Ashes Test with the England camp suggesting a score of under 400 would leave the tourists well-placed.

Australia had been in early trouble on a bouncy WACA pitch at 5-143 before Steve Smith (103 not out), Brad Haddin (55) and Mitchell Johnson (39 not out) counter-attacked.

England strayed on their lengths and consistently bowled too short, bowling coach David Saker said on Friday night.

“We didn’t hold our lengths for long enough to put pressure on them,” Saker said.

“We’re not going to shy away from that. But I know this team is a good enough team to bounce back and do their job.”

England trail two-nil in the five-match series and defeat in Perth would mean Australia regain the Ashes.

“At times today Australia made it look easy to bat,” Saker said after Australia captain Michael Clarke had won the toss.

“The one great thing about the surface here is when you get in with the bat, you can score quickly.

“But the opposite to that is you can lose multiple wickets quite quickly because it’s hard to start.

“If we can knock them over for less than 400 and really get stuck in with the bat, it’s still game on.

“It’s well and truly not over.”

The 24-year-old Smith has struck 13 fours and two sixes off 191 balls and says the Aussies are aiming to get up around the 450-mark.

“I’m sure our bowlers are going to enjoy bowling on there and if they hit the right lengths they’re going to create chances,” Smith said.

“They might have bowled a little bit short in patches. When we come out and bowl we’re going to be a yard fuller than what they are.”

Smith says honours are evenly placed after day one.

“The wicket’s pretty good,” he said.

“Hopefully we can cash in in the morning, get 400 or 450 and really be able to set the game up from there.”