England captain Nasser Hussain insists his side can still salvage some pride from the remaining Ashes Tests.

Trounced in the first three and yet to beat an Australian side on tour, Hussain remains upbeat ahead of the fourth Test in Melbourne on Boxing Day.

He believes a victory in either of the last two Tests is a realistic target.

"The way I look at it, the boys have 10 days to turn around the Test match tour, to go out there and beat Australia in a Test match," Hussain said.

You learn that Warney's got very little dress sense but not how to play his flipper Nasser Hussain

"Whatever the situation, even if they've lost the series or whatever, that will be a great achievement.

"There is still a chance left to achieve something very positive by beating Australia in a Test match.

"The series might be lost but we have got to move on from that."

Hussain admitted though that England's task has become no easier despite Australia losing Shane Warne with a dislocated shoulder.

"Obviously (Warne's) one of the greatest bowlers ever to play the game and anyone coming in to take his place has a hard act to follow," he said.

"But that lad's (Stuart MacGill) generally done well when he's taken Warne's place or played with him."

Hussain said England would use the feat of former paceman Dean Headley as their inspiration ahead of the Melbourne Test.

Headley took six for 60 in the second innings four years ago to help England beat Australia by 12 runs when the series was already lost.

"(That) still gives us very fond memories and that's why we play the game really, to have very special memories," Hussain added.

"For someone like Dean Headley, that will probably be his greatest day as a cricketer. Just because the series had gone is an irrelevance to Dean now."

Caddick will have a fitness test on his knee

Hussain has also dismissed claims by his former captain Michael Atherton that England could learn something through more social interaction with the Australians.

"That's dribble to be honest, absolute dribble," Hussain said. "You can go in and have a beer and then suddenly it makes you Don Bradman?

"I've been in a bar with the Australian side at midnight in Adelaide having a drink with them and Warney (Shane Warne) with his terrible shirt on.

"You learn that Warney's got very little dress sense but not how to play his flipper.

"You learn from the middle and learn from working hard."

England batsmen Michael Vaughan and John Crawley are both likely to be passed fit for the Test.

Crawley missed the third Test in Perth because of a hip injury, while Vaughan sat out the first four one-day matches after he was hit in the shoulder by Jason Gillespie in Adelaide.

Paceman Alex Tudor has almost fully recovered after being struck by a Brett Lee bouncer in Perth, while Andrew Caddick will have a fitness test on his knee.