They can talk all they want - Johnson

Mitchell Johnson is hoping to implement Dennis Lillee's advice in Perth next week

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Pace bowler Mitchell Johnson believes he may be a surprise weapon in Australia's armoury in the first Test against South Africa as he has never played a Test against the Proteas.

Johnson claimed he is happy for the tourists to highlight the merits of their own attack ahead of the match in Perth, but remains confident Australia have a few surprises of their own in store.

"I trust our attack and I back us all the way," Johnson said. "There's obviously going to be a little bit of niggle there with their pace, our pace, their top order, our top order.

“They can talk as much as they want but we're just going to go out there and bowl like we've been bowling.

"I think we bowled quite well against New Zealand and these are our conditions, this is something that we're used to.

"Those guys (South Africa) haven't seen me a lot in the longer form I guess so it's going to be pretty exciting for me to bowl at their top order. It's a bit of a look and see for them as well."

Fresh from a man-of-the-match performance in the second Test against New Zealand, when he returned match figures of 9-69, Johnson is looking forward to the pace and bounce expected at the WACA next week.

The former Queenslander, who now lives in Perth and is expected to play for the Warriors later this season, has spoken to Australia pace legend Dennis Lillee about what is required to be successful at the ground.

"Bowling at the WACA, it's somewhere you've got to make the batsmen play," Johnson said.

"If you're bowling outside off stump, it's pretty easy to leave here, so length’s pretty important and your line. So we just spoke about little things like that."