Ashes hopeful Mitchell Johnson saw another two catches off his bowling go down, but he still had a reason to smile in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia at the WACA Ground.

At tea on day three, the Redbacks were 8-261 in their second innings – an overall lead of 253 – with Joe Mennie on 23 and Chadd Sayers on 14.

Johnson had two catches dropped off his bowling over the first two days of the match, and he was left ruing his luck once again when John Rogers grassed one at gully early on Friday.

The left-arm quick suffered another disappointment when the usually-reliable Marcus North dropped a sharp chance at second slip when Kelvin Smith was on 32.

However, Johnson finally had a piece of luck go his way when Cameron Bancroft and Rogers combined in a brilliant piece of fielding to remove Travis Head for 92.

Bancroft initially caught Head’s slash down to third man, but he was forced to throw the ball up in the air as his momentum took him over the rope.

Rogers was on hand to take the catch, giving Johnson his second wicket of the innings.

Johnson, who took two wickets in the first innings, has figures of 2-70 off 15 overs in the second dig.

The 32-year-old suffered an injury scare on Wednesday when he jammed his toe while bowling.

But Johnson shook off the setback and is looking good to earn a call-up for the first Test against England at the Gabba, starting November 21.

Warriors paceman Michael Hogan snared the scalps of Smith (57) and Johan Botha (11) to take his figures to 3-45, while part-time spinner Will Bosisto collected two scalps to help keep WA in the contest.