The wicket block seen at most grounds – consisting of at least half a dozen pitches at various stages of growth – is vastly different at Adelaide Oval for this match.

There are only three drop-in pitches in the centre of the ground, with the ones on either side of the Test pitch particularly lush.

With the pitch expected to feature a liberal covering of grass, it is predicted to produce atypically good conditions for bowlers.

The exception, difficulty achieving reverse swing because most of the wicket block is so soft, should increase the likelihood of the pink ball retaining its colour for longer.

Lyon, a groundsman before his cricket career took off about five years ago, experienced the favourable conditions for the pink ball at Adelaide Oval in a Sheffield Shield match last month.

"It held up pretty well when we played here a few weeks ago. It doesn't have that abrasive effect and will be quite hard to get it to reverse. I dare say it will look after it pretty well," Lyon said on Wednesday.

He predicted the pitch would be "a little bit different" to what is usually seen for Adelaide Tests.

"There's a little bit more there for everyone. It won't be a typical flat Adelaide pitch that we are used to. In saying that, we played here a couple of weeks ago and it was the perfect wicket. Damian Hough is a great curator and produced that wicket for the shield game and spoke to myself, Dave Warner and Steve Smith before and after the shield game to get our feedback. I know we all gave positive feedback to Damian."

One of the surprising aspects of last month's shield match – played to the same session times as the Test starting on Friday – was the threat posed by South Australian captain Travis Head, a part-time off-spinner.

It strengthened the theory that batsmen found it more difficult to focus on the seam of the pink ball than a red one.

"It does help me out a little bit, but I still have to bowl well," Lyon said. "These guys are very good players of spin, Kane Williamson and those guys. It will be a big challenge for me. Minimal vision of the seam will help my cause."

Even though Lyon played against the pink ball a month ago, he said he was reserving judgment on its quality.

"Ask me after the Test match," he said.

Lyon hopes to be brought into the attack as early as possible so he can bowl when the pink ball is still hard. Players have reported it becomes softer as it ages, more so than a red ball.