Former Australia leg-spinner Kerry O'Keefe believes the sparks could fly on the final day of the fifth and deciding Test at The Oval on Monday.

And O'Keefe, who played three Tests on the 1977 Ashes tour of England, believes at the heart of the intense battle will be Shane Warne.

Speaking on national television in Australia, he said the final-day showdown had all the makings of a 'Hollywood' Warne climax, with Michael Vaughan's men and the umpires under intense pressure.

"They (Australia) need a lead of over 200 to allow them (on) the last day of the tour, where they have been written off, for Shane Warne to weave some magic," O'Keefe, 55, said on Channel Seven's Sportsworld program.

O'Keefe, who played 24 Tests for Australia and took 53 wickets, is convinced the Test and the series will boil over on the final day, with Warne at the centre of the action.

"There will be volatile situations. The umpires will be under extreme pressure. The crowd could riot if poor decisions are given, because England may be battling for the draw.

"It could be a very, very fiery final day to this series."

But O'Keefe believes Warne will be the coolest man on the field.

"Warney will look into the mirror the night before the last day, have a cigarette, say to himself "You Hunk" and then tell himself: "Tomorrow you have a chance to retain the Ashes for Australia."

O'Keefe feels Australia have not had the right man as captain this Ashes series.

"Warney would be a great leader, an aggressive leader," he said.

"That's what they are pinning Ricky Ponting for. The fact that although he's called Punter he's not a gambler on the field.

"It seems to be against his nature - and people are asking why he is such a conservative leader."

O'Keefe said the Aussies have been too nice under Ponting but that might change on Monday.

"At the moment they lack mongrel," he said.

"Australian cricket teams are dominant when they are not liked.

"We have seen Flintoff hitting Brett Lee into the next county and they were smiling at each other.

"That's when the Australian cricket team has been powerful - when they have been respected, but not necessarily liked, and there has been a bit of a thing between the teams.

"These two teams get on too nicely and England have taken advantage of that."

O'Keefe is convinced England cannot now win the fifth Test and the series 3-1.

"It's Australia or a draw," he said. "I think they will try and bat most of day four and lead by 200-220 runs and then put England in for a nasty 30 minutes.

"Then let Shane Warne loose on the last day against all of England.

"It will be the most pulsating day's cricket and the umpires will come under severe scrutiny.

"The Australians will be shouting for everything."