Australia duo Steve Smith and David Warner will be targeted by England fans "after a few beers"

Two of the figures involved in the ball-tampering scandal are set for their first Test outing since the episode in March 2018, this week, but Joe Denly warns they could get a rough reception

Australia pair Steve Smith and David Warner should expect ample stick from inebriated England fans during their Test returns in the Ashes at Edgbaston this week, according to batsman Joe Denly.

Two of the figures involved in the controversial ball-tampering episode in Cape Town in March 2018 known as sandpaper-gate, which led to year-long bans for the duo and a nine-month suspension for accomplice Cameron Bancroft, are expected to play in the first Test in Birmingham which starts on Thursday.

Smith and Warner were booed with regularity during the World Cup, particularly during the group and semi-final matches against hosts and eventual-winners England, and a similar reception is likely during the five-Test series in August and September.

And Denly, who himself will make his Ashes debut batting at No.4, says such a reaction is natural and he is sure that if the boot was on the other foot that Australia's fans wouldn't hold back either.

"If it was the other way around and we were going out to Australia I am pretty sure we would hear a lot about it," he told the media.

"As for what the crowd decide to do I am sure the Aussies might hear a lot about sandpaper gate throughout the series.

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"I can't really comment on how they'll be feeling but I am sure after a few beers the Aussies might get a little bit of stick."

While Warner finished as the second-highest run-scorer in the World Cup, amassing 647 with three centuries and three fifties, Smith was unable to recapture his best form on his international return and scored just 379 at an average of 37.90.

Australia crashed out in the semi-final stage but coach Justin Langer does not believe the Ashes is merely another opportunity for the pair to exercise any personal demons.

"There is a lot of attention on David and Steve," he stated. "Australians like to win, they like to beat England. We all know that. England like to be Australia. I don't think it has anything to do with redemption.

"They have played the World Cup now, they've played a lot of cricket. They're just happy to be playing and we want to beat England, and England want to beat us."