THE Adelaide Strikers will target Australian great Mitchell Johnson while Adelaide Oval looms as a route to first-class rejuvenation for former Test pair Tim Paine and Clint McKay.

SACA high performance boss Tim Nielsen said Johnson would be a showstopper for the Big Bash League’s most popular franchise.

A strike bowler of 73-Test tearaway Johnson’s calibre is the missing link for a Strikers franchise that has lost consecutive home semi-finals.

“He is now a Perth boy with family there but when the time comes we can throw something at him and see what happens,” said Johnson’s former national coach Nielsen.

“We will see where it gets to. Everyone is aware that if he was available they would take him.”

SACA has invested in youth since appointing Travis Head, 21, as skipper and Jamie Siddons head coach. However, SACA is prepared to consider players with international experience and/or those filling specific team needs.

Former Australian keeper Paine, 31, played two games this season before being displaced by Tom Triffitt, 25, in Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield side. Paine has a first-class batting average of 29 while the Redbacks’ incumbent custodian Tim Ludeman has 169 runs at 14 this season for a career average of 23.

Nielsen said current Redbacks and under-age stars would be given first crack in any list selection.

“I know Ludeman and Paine well but have to be careful to give opportunity to our own players from under-19 level upwards,” said former SA keeper Nielsen.

McKay, 32, is behind a Victorian pace posse containing Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Scott Boland, Chris Tremain and John Hastings.

McKay could offer handy squad depth for a side cultivating young pacemen including Cam Valente and Nick Benton.

“We promised Jamie 12 months to look at it all before we make any decisions. We are still giving everyone the opportunity to shore down their spot,” Nielsen said.

The Redbacks excelled before Christmas, clinching a Matador Cup final against New South Wales.

Siddons’ men were less than a point behind Shield champion Victoria entering the Big Bash League hiatus but have lost consecutive home games to the Bushrangers and Queensland.