David Warner is set to open in the fourth Ashes Test against England, Australia captain Pat Cummins said on Tuesday, but spinner Todd Murphy could be squeezed out to accommodate both all-rounders, Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green.

Warner's place looked uncertain after his double failure in the third Test.

Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will return as Australia try to secure the Ashes with a match to spare.

"Josh will come in for Scott Boland, and the top order will stay the same," Cummins, whose team are 2-1 ahead in the five-match series, told reporters on the eve of the match at Old Trafford.

"Davey (Warner) didn't have his best game last week at Headingley, but prior to that, he has looked really good. He has had three 50-run (opening) partnerships, which can be rare over in England."

With rain forecast for the last two days of the Test, Cummins was fine with the idea of not playing a frontline spinner. "It's all really conditions-based," he said.

Reuters