Ryan Harris has snared a couple of wickets to help roll Kent for 280 on day three of Australia’s opening Ashes tour game.

The visitors boasted a 227-run lead at lunch with the likes of Shane Watson and Mitch Marsh keen for some time in the middle in the afternoon.

Mitchell Johnson grabbed the headlines on Friday after terrorising the locals with pace and bounce in Canterbury.

“There is no way I get paid enough to be facing him – and I do alright for myself, don’t get me wrong,” Kent veteran Rob Key quipped.

Harris was relatively subdued but that changed when Kent resumed at 5-203 on Saturday.

The 35-year-old bowled tighter lines and was rewarded with the scalp of Sam Billings in his third over on day three.

Former England under-19 captain Adam Ball handed Harris another wicket soon after when he picked out Peter Siddle on the rope at fine leg.

“He can probably go up a notch,” Key said of Harris after scoring 87 on day two.

“But he’s quick. He’s on you and he gets the ball to move probably more than the other Australian bowlers.

“The more he bowls, it won’t be long before he finds rhythm. He’s a very good bowler.”

Harris, Australia’s leading wicket-taker in the 2013 Ashes, is no certainty for the first Test in Cardiff given the form of incumbent pacemen Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

Mitchell Claydon was dropped on nine by Brad Haddin but added one run before Mitch Marsh completed a sharp caught-and-bowled chance to dismiss him.

Tailenders Matt Hunn and Adam Riley kept the visitors at bay for 10 overs but Johnson broke the partnership.

The left-armer made an instant impact when he started his second spell of the day, uprooting Riley’s off stump.

Johnson finished with figures of 4-56 from 18 overs, having cranked up the pace on day two.

“I felt like I had dropped a little of pace throughout the West Indies and in the IPL,” Johnson told Fox Sports.

“It wasn’t too much of a concern for me.

“I was really excited about getting over here and playing in these conditions.

“I know the ball swings here in overcast conditions. It was nice to get out there and let a few rip.”

Johnson’s Ashes redemption came in 2013-14, when he snagged a staggering 37 wickets and terrorised England’s batsmen.

However, the 33-year-old will be desperate to show he can do it in English conditions after a miserable tour in 2009.