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Kevin Pietersen insists Australia will be a "very, very good cricket side" even without injured paceman Brett Lee.

Lee has been ruled out of Wednesday's opening Ashes Test in Cardiff because of a rib injury.

He was the pick of the attack in the drawn game against England Lions, finishing the four-day fixture with match figures of 7-114.

While admitting the absence of the 32-year-old is a "bit of a bonus" for England, Pietersen expects the Aussies to be strong whatever XI they select.

"He's a superstar performer," the batsman told Sky Sports News after only just learning of Lee's injury.

"We've seen that in the last couple of days with the way he's bowled at Worcester against the Lions.

"We also know that whatever team Australia put out, it's going to be a very, very good cricket side. Whether Brett plays or doesn't play, Australia are going to be strong.

"We have got to go out and concentrate on what we do, though if he (Lee) doesn't play it would be a bit of a bonus."

Pietersen admits he can't wait for all the talking to stop and the action to get underway, predicting a tough series between the two rivals.

"We just want to get started," he admitted. "A lot of talk goes on before a series, particularly this series, and I think it's one we're all excited (about) and ready to get really into battle.

"We want to go out and play positive cricket. The cricket we have played in the last six months since Jamaica has been pretty impressive. That's the kind of cricket we want to play.

"We're going to have play positive cricket, intelligent cricket and dominant cricket throughout the series.

"The Australians are going to come at us - they are the best ranked team in the world at the moment. We go into the series as the underdogs but we have home advantage. I'm not going to say what the outcome will be but it's going to be a tough series."

Pietersen helped England win the Ashes in 2005 with a maiden Test ton in the fifth and final Test at the Oval and is expected to play a leading role this summer.

The 29-year-old has been hampered by an Achilles injury this summer but insists he is making an excellent recovery and should be fit to feature in the entire series.

"The injury seems to be behind me now, (I will have) a few more days of rehab. I started running a few days ago and everything feels okay," he added.

"Hopefully, touch wood, I will go through the series without an injury, without a flare-up, and have a successful campaign."