Quick strikes will be the target tomorrow morning as England attempt to seize the initiative in the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval.
A nip-and-tuck opening day ended with Australia, having won what seemed a crucial toss after England selected two spinners, on 273 for five.
That left honours even, although the tourists may yet rue three dropped chances – including a costly Michael Carberry one just before stumps.
Graeme Swann, however, was far from downbeat having claimed the wicket of Chris Rogers for 79 and taken an outstanding catch to oust Australia’s other half-centurion George Bailey.
And he is well aware England could assume control with a good start in the morning.
“If we take another couple quick wickets in the morning it will put us in a great position,” Swann told ecb.co.uk.
"I think it is fairly even to be honest. We would have preferred them to be six or seven down. We let a couple of half-chances go, which is unlike us.
"On another day we’d have taken them and had them six or seven down and I think we’d have then said we’d definitely won the day but five for 270, we’ll take that.
"If we come back in the morning and take a couple of quick wickets then we’re in a good position."
Swann was afforded a rare opportunity to bowl in tandem with Monty Panesar and, with conditions suiting both, could not help but be impressed by what he saw from his partner in crime.
"It is a dry pitch with a bit of turn. As soon as there is a bit of turn, not every ball but the odd one goes, it puts doubt into a batsman's mind," he added.
"I was happy with how I bowled and I thought Monty bowled well coming back into the side. He could have had another wicket too.
"The wicket is going to turn more as the game goes on and hopefully having two spinners can be an advantage for us."
With tomorrow firmly in their sights, England can take heart from their efforts in the afternoon, when three quick wickets undermined a good start from the hosts.
And they will hope for more pieces of brilliance akin to that produced towards the end of the day when Swann dived to his right to claim a stunning chance that dismissed the dangerous Bailey, who had already clubbed three sixes.
"It was an unbelievable catch," joked Swann. "I am glad you said that. I will talk about it all night if you want? You have no idea how hard he hit that and sometimes your right man is in the right place and I pulled off a 'worldy'."