Sydney: Skipper Steve Smith says Australia plan to reopen old English Ashes scars starting with a morale-shattering blow in the series opener at the Gabba this month.

Smith has indelible memories of the shattering effect of the opening Brisbane Test from the last 2013-14 Ashes battle in Australia on the remainder of that series.

England were battered by the hostility of pacer Mitchell Johnson, backed up by Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle and the resilience of Australia's lower batting order.

Smith said he wants those in England's squad who played in that series - captain Joe Root, Alastair Cook, Jonny Bairstow, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Steven Finn - to relive the nightmare.

"First Test match is going to be really important, we need to set the tone again and hopefully get them on a similar path to what we did in 2013," he said ahead of the first Test on November 23 in Brisbane. "A few players were out here for that tour, and hopefully we can get them thinking the same way, open a few of those scars up as such, get them thinking 'oh not this again' and that kind of thought process.

He said he expected England coach Trevor Bayliss to ensure his team had an attacking frame of mind. "I know Trevor very well and he'll ensure they're very attacking and those kinds of things."

"We just need to stick to our guns and ensure we prepare really well and make sure we're doing the basic stuff really well out in the middle.

Smith admitted Australia's middle-order needed to be more productive. AFP