Perth, Dec. 12 : Former Australian pace great Dennis Lillee once described a teenage Mitchell Johnson as a "once in a generation" bowler, and now seems intent that his young protégé fulfills his ultimate prophecy.

Lillee met Johnson yesterday to discuss tactics for bowling at the WACA Ground, passing on advice and experience from 15 years of bowling on the pace-friendly surface.

"It''s good to have his advice. We just spoke about how things have been going for me at the moment and also just bowling at the WACA,"The Age quoted Johnson, as saying.

"[South Africa] haven''t seen me in the longer form. I guess it''s going to be pretty exciting for me to bowl to their top order. They''ve had some good performers there. It''s a bit of a look-and-see for them. They''ve only faced me in the one-day [arena]. I''ve spoken to Dennis about bowling at the WACA. It''s a little bit different bowling here than Sydney or Melbourne," he added.

Johnson has issued a direct challenge to Stuart Clark for new-ball duties against South Africa. Clark has opened the bowling alongside Brett Lee for most of 2008, however Johnson believes his pace and swing have him positioned to reclaim the position he surrendered last summer. (ANI)