Lee backs fellow seamers

Brett Lee took 12 wickets at an average of 21.83 on his team's recent tour of India

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Brett Lee is adamant Australia’s pace attack still has the ammunition to threaten South Africa’s top-order, despite the loss of Stuart Clark to a recurrence of his elbow injury.

Clark was forced to withdraw from Australia’s squad for the first Test in Perth after the elbow injury that affected him during the tour of India flared up once more.

Clark has effectively been ruled out of the entire Test series with the 33-year-old scheduled to have undergone surgery today and is expected to miss the next six weeks.

His place in Australia’s squad will be taken by promising Victoria paceman Peter Siddle, who made his Test debut on the recent tour of India as a replacement for Clark.

But Lee refused to concede Clark's injury could be a mortal blow to Australia's chances in the series overall, saying he had every confidence in the hosts' undermanned attack - even against what is regarded as South Africa's best top-order combination since 1992.

“We've got a great bowling line-up and we've got a great squad,” Lee declared several times ahead of the series opener at the WACA Ground on Wednesday.

“I know if we get the ball in the right areas, then hopefully our bowling attack will be good enough.

“It's obviously disappointing from our point of view (to lose Clark), he's a world-class bowler, he's always great to have in the side with his versatility.

“(But) Peter Siddle comes in, a guy that got four wickets on his Test debut and I thought bowled very, very well and has shown great promise.”

Lee has picked out Graeme Smith as the batsman Australia need to stop scoring runs against them

Lee conceded the attack would have to go to great lengths to stop South Africa's batsmen from getting their eye in, earmarking Proteas captain and opener Graeme Smith as the number one target.

“If we can come out and happen to bowl first, then we really have to set the tone,” Lee said.

“If Graeme Smith gets away, which he's shown on a number of occasions against other countries, he can lock himself in for a big score and that happens here in Perth, a batsman gets away here and there's a lot of gaps and a pretty quick outfield.

“So that first Test, that first session is going to sum up the whole series I think.”

After a tumultuous tour of India, Lee feels his improved form against New Zealand in the last two Tests, where he took series figures of 12-262 at 21.83, has more than adequately prepared him to lead Australia's young bowling division against the tourists.

“I enjoy taking the brand new ball and trying to lead from the front,” Lee said.

“I've obviously enjoyed being the spearhead of the attack if you like to call it that and taking that extra bit of responsibility.

“Personally-wise, the New Zealand series was perfect for me.

“Especially in the last game, the second Test in Adelaide, it felt like the ball came out probably the best it has in a long, long time, so I'm really looking forward to playing here.”