FORMER national coach David Lloyd has given both England and Worcestershire sound advice ahead of their forthcoming games with the formidable Australians.

The County take on the tourists at New Road in a three-day clash starting on Saturday and Lloyd believes they will need to muster all their energy to cope.

Australia, who romped to a 239-run victory over England in the first Test at Lord's, play the second npower Test at Edgbaston next Thursday.

Lloyd said: "When you play Australia you must match their energy and intensity.

"It is no good doing it for short periods, you have to do it throughout the entire match. Without matching them you cannot beat them.

"England need to disrupt Australia's game plan so that they are not doing things which they would like to be doing.

"One of the basic things they do, once the opposition's innings has settled down a bit, is to operate Shane Warne at one end with the quicks rotating at the other.

"Our guys have to find a way of breaking that up in some way, not allowing Warne to settle into that role, and putting their change bowlers under some pressure."

Meanwhile, reports suggest Australia will rest a clutch of their best players for the match at New Road.

Former Worcestershire fast bowler Glenn McGrath and spin king Warne could sit out the match along with wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist and another batsman, possibly Damien Martyn.

Skipper Ricky Ponting may also be rested before the second Test which could mean Matthew Hayden or Simon Katich captaining the side for the first time.

The selectors are keen for the likes of Michael Kasprowicz, Brad Hodge, Stuart MacGill, Shaun Tait and Brad Haddin to have a solid work-out.

Fast bowler Tait is yet to play a match since he joined the Test squad, while Haddin filled in for Gilchrist against Somerset when Australia lost.