Ricky Ponting says he is looking forward to facing Steve Harmison in a warm-up match ahead of the Ashes.

Both former captain Michael Vaughan and fellow 2005 hero Harmison were left out of England's 16-man training squad ahead of the first Test in Cardiff next month.

However, Durham seamer Harmison has been given a chance to prove the selectors wrong with a place in the England Lions team to face the tourists in a four-day warm-up at Worcester on July 1.

Leg-spin prospect Adil Rashid, who impressed during the recent World Twenty20 campaign, joins Harmison in the Lions side which will be captained by Ian Bell.

Ponting is happy to face Harmison, insisting the tourists cannot get enough tough tests ahead of the Ashes series.

"At his best, we all know how good a bowler Harmison can be. At one stage he was probably the best fast bowler in Test cricket," said the Australian skipper, whose side are preparing for their opening warm-up game against Sussex.

He added: "It will be good preparation for all of us, to face those qualities of bowlers and will also give those guys an opportunity to put their names in front of the England selectors.

"You want to be facing the best bowlers and batsmen you can going into a Test series.

"The better opposition you can have, the better prepared you will be heading into the first Test."

© Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.