Cricket: Australian quicks ready to intimidate - Lehmann

The WACA has had a reputation as one of the fastest pitch blocks in world cricket since its first test in 1970 and Darren Lehmann sees an opportunity to bury New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images

Australia are planning a fast-bowling assault to knock New Zealand out of the series when the second cricket test starts at the WACA on Friday.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann has been priming his fast bowlers to turn the blowtorch on New Zealand's batsmen, some of whom were fragile in the first test loss in Brisbane.

New Zealand have not having played a test in Perth since 2001, so none of the current squad have experienced its playing characteristics over five days.

In that high scoring draw, four New Zealand batsmen - Lou Vincent, Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle and Adam Parore - scored centuries in the first innings.

The WACA has had a reputation as one of the fastest pitch blocks in world cricket since its first test in 1970 and Lehmann sees an opportunity to bury New Zealand.

"If our blokes get it right, [New Zealand] can be [intimidated], yeah," Lehmann said.

"It was a really good wicket last year. It had some pace and bounce in it, so it's certainly getting back to the old WACA, which is what everyone wants to see. That's going to be exciting, seeing all the quicks go at it."

Lehmann was careful to pay due credit to New Zealand's key seamers, Trent Boult and Tim Southee, assuming the latter makes it through his fitness checks on his back in the next two days.

"They've got some quality swing bowlers so it's going to be challenging," he said.

There was no test in Perth last year, but Australia flogged England by 150 runs in 2013, with fast bowlers taking 27 of 36 wickets.

When South Africa beat Australia in 2012, 30 out of 40 wickets went the way of the speedsters, notably Mitchell Starc who took six wickets in South Africa's second innings.

Perth is now Mitchell Johnson's home city and, with speculation the left-armer may be preparing to retire at the end of this season, it's expected he will want to fire up this week.

Starc got carried away on the aggression front at Brisbane, receiving a fine of half his match fee for petulantly hurling a ball at batsman Mark Craig on the final day. That earned him a public rebuke from new Australian captain Steven Smith as well.

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson didn't join the Starc debate today.

"I really have no interest how he operates, to be fair," Hesson said.

"It's more about what he does with the ball rather than what he does with his mouth or throws the ball.

"I thought the match referee dealt with it appropriately. If that (Starc's behaviour) makes us angry, it means we are a bit consumed with things out of our control.

"There are plenty of things for us to worry about."

This is likely to be the final test on the WACA, with a multi-purpose facility in Perth expected to be ready in time to host major tests by the 2017-2018 season.