Australia need to take inspiration from the fighting spirit of former batsman Justin Langer as they try to somehow stay in the Ashes at Emirates Old Trafford, according to opener Chris Rogers.

The tourists already cannot afford to lose with three matches still to play and England supporters are dreaming of a third successive Ashes series victory.

Australia's principal problem in their two defeats so far has been the collective failure of their batting line-up. Rogers has only managed one half-century, in the second innings of the first Investec Test at Trent Bridge, and knows he is one of several who need to do significantly better if Australia are to be competitive.

"You've got to get stuck in," the 35-year-old said. "There were times playing at Western Australia, when we weren't doing so well, and that was Justin Langer's motto. It seemed to work for me."

"I don't think there's anything else you can do. You've got to fight as hard as you can, try to stay out there and not surrender your wicket – which we've probably been doing a little bit too easily. That's what I'll be looking to do."

Despite their struggles, Rogers said Australia – under coach Darren Lehmann and captain Michael Clarke – still believe they can put things right in time to make a difference.

"With Darren at the helm, and Michael Clarke's been excellent as well, the mood's still good," he said. "We're still positive – we win this game, and things change pretty quickly."

Rogers' lowest moment in the series so far came when he was out lbw to a Graeme Swann full toss at Lord's, a delivery which slipped from the off-spinner's grasp and hit the batsman in the midriff.

He chose not to use a review to appeal the decision – having wastefully advised Shane Watson to do so earlier – only to discover afterwards Hawk-Eye would have reprieved him. "If I'd reviewed it, and it was hitting middle halfway up, I'd have looked a bit of a fool. I couldn't tell, and we were already down one – which was probably my fault as well. That's the way it goes. As a cricketer, I'd make a poor umpire."

Among Australia's failings in the first two Tests has been their questionable, and mostly unsuccessful, use of the review system. Again, Rogers accepts he needs to improve.

He said: "It's a big part of the game now, and I've never been a part of it. It's a bit of a learning curve for me. As a side we need to be better. England have used it quite well, us not so well. That's another thing we need to do, like the rest of our skills."

Australia are likely to bring attacking batsman David Warner into their team for the Manchester Test, after his false start to this series.

Warner was infamously unavailable for the first two matches, following his Cricket Australia ban for punching England batsman Joe Root in a Birmingham bar after defeat in the Champions Trophy.

But after accumulating runs for Australia A in South Africa last week, the tourists will be tempted to pick him again. Rogers appears enthusiastic about that possibility.

"Davey brings a lot of energy to the group always," he said. "He's just one of those guys – he goes at 100 miles an hour. He's such a destructive player that if he bats for a while he could put some real pressure on England.

"If he plays then I hope he can have one of those games and help us win this next Test. He's one of those the opposition know they have to get out quickly. If he bats for a while he can take the game away, like [Adam]Gilchrist used to do. So we hope he can do that for us if he does play."

Batting all-rounder Steve Smith missed training today because of a stiff back, but the tourists are still optimistic he will be fit in time for Thursday.