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Steve Smith looms as the ace up Australia's sleeve as they attempt to bounce back from a gutting one-wicket loss to England in the third Ashes Test.

Of the millions of Australians still struggling to process Ben Stokes's brutal Headingley rampage and wondering what is next in an enthralling Ashes series now level at 1-1, spare a thought for Steve Smith.

Emotive and eccentric, Smith wears his heart on his sleeve in good times and bad while struggling to stay still - with the noted exception of a bowler's release point.

Smith is expected to return from concussion in a Derby tour game on Thursday then resume his battle with England in the fourth Test, which starts at Old Trafford next Wednesday.

"I know last week at Lord's he said he was screaming at the TV from his hotel room, watching the final hour," Pat Cummins said.

"He seems OK, I'm not sure how he was watching (during the game)."

Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja headline the list of candidates facing the axe as selectors now mull how best to reshuffle the batting order.

The three-day clash with Derbyshire will likely decide which batsman makes way for Smith, with Marnus Labuschagne now entrenched in the XI after top-scoring for three-straight innings.

"We were right on top (in Leeds) and we've got the world's best batter coming in for the next one," Cummins said.

"It's going to be great for him to be back."

Cummins, who suggested he feels "really good" and still harbours hope of playing all five Tests in this series, Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson are certainties to sit out the game in Derby.

Mitchell Starc, in the mix to return to the Test arena next week, will be among the bowlers out to impress selectors this week.

"I'm sure he'll be bowling pretty fast ... he'll be one to keep an eye on," Cummins said.

Smith's enforced omission in Leeds was a big tick for Cricket Australia's concussion policy, given he is the nation's best batsman since Don Bradman and it was a such a high-stakes contest.

It was also an obvious blow to the tourists' hopes of a victory that would guarantee they'd become the first Australian squad to retain the urn in England since 2001.

Labuschagne, playing in place of Smith, scored 154 runs.

There are far too many sliding doors involved to speculate what might have happened if Smith played at Headingley but his sage tactical advice regarding fields, reviews, bowling changes and plans on a frantic fourth day would have been handy if nothing else.

A half chance offered by Stokes in Sunday's morning session may well have been snapped up by the former skipper; although David Warner's efforts in the cordon were superb and included a screamer to dismiss Joe Root.

Smith is always reluctant to leave the nets and it was no different during the third Test, when team doctor Richard Saw oversaw a gradual return to activity in line with concussion protocols.

The once-in-a-generation batsman's first hit, against throwdowns rather than bowlers, lasted 15 minutes before Dr Saw gave the right-hander his marching orders.