Michael Clarke is seeking to steer Australia away from a rocky present by drawing on their world-beating past.

With his side 1-0 down to England after the drama of Trent Bridge, Clarke's task of claiming back the Ashes urn is tough enough without external pressure, but he is now dealing with the fall-out of a legal claim by former coach Mickey Arthur, sacked earlier on this trip and replaced by Darren Lehmann.

Arthur is pursuing a claim against his former employers for 4million Australian dollars (around £2.44million), and reports in Australia claimed his case includes allegations of a bitter rift between Clarke and another former Hampshire man, Shane Watson,, his former deputy.

Clarke would not entertain such talk ahead of tomorrow's second Investec Test at Lord's, instead preferring to focus on the task at hand.

"I've spoken a lot in the past about my relationship with Shane and so has Shane, so I'm not going to go into that," he said.

"I'm not going to go backwards, it's about looking forward.

"It's important for me to keep my eyes on the field. We as a team know we have a really important job to do in this Test match and for the rest of this series. So none of this will be a distraction to me personally and it certainly won't be to the team.

"I think we showed that to all of the media and the public over the five days playing in Nottingham and we'd like to continue to show that in this second Test match at Lord's."

The skipper's plans for the current team include an open line of communication to the likes of Steve Waugh, Glenn McGrath and ex-Hampshire captain Shane Warne.

All three represent links to Australia's period of world domination in the mid-to-late 90s and early 2000s and Clarke, who played with McGrath and Warne, believes their knowledge is an invaluable resource.

"We had Glenn McGrath around the group over the last couple of days, who spoke of his experiences...Steve Waugh was around the changing room yesterday as well and I think Shane Warne's going to come in," said Clarke.

"Something I am proud of, and I know Darren Lehmann is keen to do it, is bringing past players in around the group. I think there has been a stage in the Australian cricket team when we have almost forgotten why we do sit where we sit and play this great game, travel the world and fly business class and stay at fantastic hotels.

"It's certainly not because of what this team has done, it is because of the people who have come before us.

"The players have enjoyed it. I know a lot of the guys really enjoyed talking to Glenn McGrath over a couple of beers the other night.

"Warney has spent a fair bit of time around the group too. I'm extremely proud of our history in the game and when my time is done I hope the next generation is just as proud."

Selection-wise Australia have a couple of pressing issues, with number three Ed Cowan vulnerable to the challenge of Usman Khawaja after a poor Test and the possible temptation to draft in one of Ryan Harris or Jackson Bird among the seamers.