Batsman Mike Hussey has rubbished suggestions Australia stole momentum from South Africa by finishing stronger in the drawn Test series opener.

Hussey says the drawn Brisbane Test will have no bearing on the second Test starting in Adelaide on Thursday.

“I don’t really like to think we take any momentum coming out of Brisbane either,” Hussey told reporters on Sunday.

“I think we start nil-all again.”

In the Ashes series against England two years ago, a drawn first Test in Brisbane was followed by an Australian loss in the second match in Adelaide, when the Australians lost three wickets in the initial half an hour.

“Coming out of Brisbane in the Ashes a couple of years ago, we lost the first session against England here in Adelaide very poorly.

“Obviously we were 3-1 in the first half an hour of the match and were basically playing catch up since then,” Hussey said.

“So it’s very important we start this match well.

“I think what has happened in Brisbane has gone and it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that first hour, that first half an hour of this Test match.

“We have got to start better than we did a couple of years ago against England.”

The Australians arrived in Adelaide on Sunday with ongoing concern about vice-captain Shane Watson’s calf injury.

Watson has been named in a 13-man squad and will train with the Australians on Monday in a bid to prove his fitness.