David Warner: Ian Bell is an easy wicket

Australia's Brad Haddin, left, Steve Smith, 2nd left, Michael Clarke and David Warner, right, celebrates the wicket of England's Adam Lyth. Photo / AP.

Australia opener David Warner has turned up the heat on struggling England batsman Ian Bell, saying his current form makes him "an easy wicket."

Bell is fighting for his future after making just 116 runs in his last eight innings in an England team that was beaten by 405 runs in the second Ashes Test.

The teams head to Birmingham this week - Bell's home ground of Edgbaston - ahead of the third Test with the series locked at 1-1.

Bell will move up to bat at No 3 after Gary Ballance was replaced by Jonny Bairstow following a similar poor run of form, but Warner has revealed Australia still see him as a weak link.

Warner said: "I think with Ballance and Bell where they are at the moment, they almost seem like two easy wickets because they're not scoring as many runs as they would like. But it's cricket. It's a funny game. They're there for a reason.

"They've scored runs in the past and Bell is an experienced player who has got a lot of runs on the board, but he's just in one of those patches. It only takes one good knock to come back out and get back into form.

"I think Johno (Mitchell Johnson) does (have some of the English players worked out).

"We have our same routine to Cookie (Alastair Cook), we have our same routine to Belly. And you have Rootie (Joe Root) who comes out and scores a hundred.

"Their batting order and what's happening in their camp, they are going to have to work out themselves.

"It's like they put all their energy in the first Test. I felt that as a batsman.

"The job is hard enough as it is, walking out there in your normal position, let alone coming out chopping and changing."

"We have to bring our A game and execute our plans."

While Bell can expect concentrated hostility from the Australia pace attack, Warner is braced to receive much the same thing from the Edgbaston crowd on his return to Birmingham.

Two years ago, during the Champions Trophy, it was in the city's Walkabout nightspot that he made a physical attack on Root that led to censure from Cricket Australia.

Edgbaston is notorious as the most vociferous of British Test venues and Warner says he and Johnson are prepared for treatment similar to that given to Stuart Broad by the crowds at the 2013-14 Ashes.

"When we read the papers at home, the Courier-Mail gave it to Stuart Broad. We sit back and laugh at it but when we go over to England we know we are going to be the ones they are going to have a go at," Warner said.

"But that's great. For us it is about going out and playing positive cricket. You are going to cop criticism wherever you go.

"You can't keep everyone happy and it is our job - my job - to score runs, his to take wickets. If we keep doing that we look after ourselves."

Warner has spoken of being a reformed character, toning down his on-field volume, and of his new values since becoming a family man. He has also given up alcohol.

Yet it did not stop one of his predecessors, Matthew Hayden, from criticising him for not applauding Root's hundred in Cardiff, an accusation Warner refutes.

"If the camera stayed on me for the five minutes that he celebrated they would have seen me clap alongside all the other guys," he countered.

"We all clapped, we always do. We will continue to acknowledge people's knocks."

With Australia continuing to run medical checks on opening batsman Chris Rogers after his blow to the head and subsequent dizziness at Lord's, 32-year-old Shaun Marsh will partner Warner at the top of the order against Derbyshire.

The first-choice seam attack, plus Steve Smith, have not travelled north from London, leaving Australia with just 12 players for the Derby fixture.

Spinner Nathan Lyon is expected to be named as 12th man.