Nathan Lyon heads into his third Ashes series both buoyant at the prospect of facing seven left-handers in the England batting order and feeling suitably emboldened to label their training camp in Spain this weekend “a holiday”.

Such is the off-spinner’s confidence he has even begun to impersonate the great Shane Warne by claiming he has a new “mystery ball” in his armoury.

Lyon, who has been working on the as-yet undefined delivery he calls “Square Jeff” for two years, is one of nine New South Wales cricketers in the Australia squad to have worked under the incoming England head coach, Trevor Bayliss, and, in a rare moment of talking up the opposition, admits the relaxing influence of the 52-year-old could yet make the hosts a more dangerous prospect.

Bayliss arrives in this country on Thursday before heading off with his new charges to an undisclosed location on the Iberian peninsular. By the time Alastair Cook’s 14-man party touches down for their long weekend of fielding drills, team talks and golf, Australia will be two days into their first tour game against Kent at Canterbury and, with just a fortnight to go before the first Test in Cardiff on 8 July, there is no doubt which approach Lyon thinks is the superior.

“To be honest I don’t really care what England are doing,” said the 27-year-old, who became Australia’s most prolific off-break bowler during the 2-0 Test series win over West Indies earlier this month when he passed Hugh Trumble’s 111-year-old record of 141 victims.

“I know they are going on tour to Spain – they can enjoy their time on a holiday while we are preparing to take the Ashes home. We’re not sunbathing, that’s for sure.”

Asked about the influence of Bayliss, he added, half-jokingly: “Trevor will bring in a different insight into Australian cricket – now we can text him and try and get injury news and stuff. England have fallen for that. But Trevor is a great guy, a great coach and he will bring a more relaxed environment to the England side, which can potentially be dangerous.”

Even being described as “the weak link” in the touring attack by the former spinner Graeme Swann last week – a tranche of punditry that was more a talking up of their bulging fast bowling stocks, than a dig at his old opposite number – was not enough to dampen Lyon’s spirits. His confidence has also been lifted by the former England captain Michael Vaughan tipping him to be the leading wicket-taker in the series by virtue of turning the ball away from all but four of Cook’s expected side.

“It’s amazing – one guy is writing me off, the other is giving me a compliment. Swann is trying to get under Australia’s skin but I’ve played 41 Tests now and I’ve always been referred to as the weakest link, so it doesn’t phase me,” he said. “And they are very nice words from Michael Vaughan but there is a lot of cricket to be played yet. If I end up being lead wicket taker I will be quite happy – as long as we take that trophy home. I’m excited about the Ashes series and all the left-handers.”

While Lyon is inked in for the series opener in Wales, Australia have a greater selection headache in the fast bowling department with five pacemen of significant pedigree vying for three places. Ryan Harris, who has taken 57 wickets in 12 Ashes Tests, has rejoined Michael Clarke’s squad after missing their recent tour of the Caribbean on paternity leave and could oust one of Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson or Josh Hazlewood. Peter Siddle sits at the back of the queue but is a veteran of four series against England.

Asked if this was the strongest stable of quick bowlers he had been a part of, the 30-year-old Siddle replied: “I think it has to be. I didn’t play in the West Indies and Ryano didn’t play – we have plenty of options and everyone is different. For the team it is a tremendous thing to have that competitiveness – it makes us strong. We have plenty of options and everyone is different. It will be hard work to get those spots but all the boys are up for the challenge.”