Ricky Ponting is looking for Australia to capitalise on the absence of Kevin Pietersen and target the England middle order during the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston.

The skipper believes England look more vulnerable now Pietersen is sidelined for the remainder of the series with his Achilles problem. And Ponting is aware replacement Ian Bell has struggled in the past to make an impression against Australia, who will be striving to level the series after England's comfortable win at Lord's.

Ponting said: "I think the England middle order has a different feeling about it at the moment with Pietersen not being in the side."

He added: "I was listening a lot to what Ian has had to say in the week about his record against Australia not being as good as every other team he has played against.

"There is a great opportunity for us to get into that middle order a little bit as we were able to do during the first Test in Cardiff.

"The big partnership between Alistair Cook and Andrew Strauss at Lord's made it a bit difficult for us to do that.

"But we are hoping to get the openers out this week and get that middle order out there against a relatively new and shiny hard ball.

"If we are able to do that I think we can do some damage."

Ponting added: "Bell is a good player and he has shown that throughout his career to date but we do feel their batting is slightly weakened with Pietersen not being in their line-up.

"Pietersen is one of the better and more dominant players in world cricket," he added. "They haven't got that guy anymore. I do believe England look at him to give them something. We will see over the next five days if anything has changed."