Veteran opener Marvan Atapattu was unbeaten on 42 with wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene on three at the Gabba with only the tail to come and Australia sensing a quick kill.

In reply to the home side's four for 551 declared, Sri Lanka started the day on 2-31.

With the new ball only 16 overs old, Brett Lee and Clark resumed the attack.

The immaculate line and length of tall right-armer Clark (2-31) claimed the prize wicket of skipper Mahela Jayawardene, caught behind for 14 to reduce the tourists to 3-45.

Johnson (1-39) then replaced the dangerous Lee (2-12 off 10 overs) at the Vulture Street end and struck in his second over of the day.

Thilan Samaraweera (13) edged through to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist with the score on 65.

Left-arm quick Johnson, 26, was hugged by captain Ricky Ponting and mobbed by teammates as the Gabba crowd rose to applaud the Queenslander's success.

Chamara Silva (40) and Atapattu shared a run-a-minute stand of 54 for the fifth wicket but Silva threw his wicket away with a rash stroke 13 minutes before lunch, caught at deep third man by Michael Clarke of the bowling of Clark.

Silva had been dropped twice off leg-spinner Stuart MacGill's bowling, on 13 by Gilchrist and on 20 at square leg by Clarke.

MacGill was relatively expensive with 0-41 off 11 overs but bowled without luck and will gain more turn from the pitch as it wears later in the game.

AAP