Steve Smith ... must prove his fitness ahead of the Old Trafford Test. Source: Jon Super / AAP
STEVE Smith has been unable to train because of a stiff back and is in doubt for the third Test at Old Trafford, beginning on Thursday.
He must prove his fitness at practice on Wednesday to ensure his selection as the competition for batting places intensifies following the return of David Warner to the squad.
Team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris is hopeful Smith will be able to play.
"He was very stiff after the game against Sussex but has improved today and I expect him to improve again tomorrow," Kountouris.
"We're hopefully he'll be able to train tomorrow and be right to play."
Smith, 24, has a history of back problems but has rarely missed matches as a result.
He scored an unbeaten century in the three-day game against Sussex, which ended in a draw on Sunday, to shore up his place in the Test team.
While Smith and Phil Hughes both failed twice during Australia's dreadful 347-run second Test loss at Lord's, Smith claimed four wickets for the match with his part time leg-spinners.
The Old Trafford pitch is already a largely grassless strip and is expected to continue its tradition of helping spin bowling.
It is by far Monty Panesar's best ground, with 25 wickets in just three Tests. The left arm spinner has been included as part of England's 14-man squad.
With Warner expected to return in the middle order Hughes is the play most under presser to retain his place despite scoring 81 not out in the first Test at Trent Bridge, one of his best Test innings.
his scores since have been 0, 1 and 1, although Hughes is Australia's leading first class run maker on tour, with 436 runs at an average of 62.
He has reached 50 five times, more than any other player on tour, but has failed to turn any of them into hundreds.
The Australians have managed just three first class centuries on tour, to Shane Watson, Michael Clarke and Smith.
The highest scorer in the Test series remains Ashton Agar, who made 98 batting at number 11 on debut in Nottingham.
With Watson and Chris Rogers being rested from the Sussex game and given time in London to train at Lord's they appear certain to remain the team's openers for this Test at least, despite both averaging in the 20s during this series.
And Usman Khawaja is expected to be given another chance at number three after top-scoring at for Australia at Lord's, when he batted for three hours in the second innings to make 54.
Ed Cowan made 66 and 77 not out against Sussex but is unlikely to regain his place after being dropped following the first Test.
Hughes may also struggle to hold his place unless Smith is ruled out.
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