Will flanker Lewis Moody © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Toby Flood | Martin Johnson | Lewis Moody

Teams: England

England manager Martin Johnson has decided to release captain Lewis Moody for Aviva Premiership duty this weekend - but he is not taking a risk with Toby Flood.

The Leicester fly-half, who started both England's Tests on the tour of Australia, has played just one full game for the Tigers since suffering knee ligament damage on the opening weekend of the season. Johnson always seemed likely to keep Flood in cotton wool ahead of England's opening international against New Zealand on November 6 - but the injury concerns surrounding Jonny Wilkinson made that certain.

Wilkinson reported to England's pre-autumn training camp with a shoulder injury which is causing the red rose medics enough concern for Charlie Hodgson to be retained alongside Flood in the training squad. But Johnson has agreed for Moody, who has been sidelined since October 1 with an eye socket injury, to link up with his Bath colleagues tomorrow ahead of Sunday's game against Harlequins.

Johnson released eight other players back to their clubs, including original squad members Tim Payne and Dominic Waldouck from Wasps, Saracens winger David Strettle and Leicester hooker George Chuter. Tom Wood, Joe Marler, Brad Barritt and Dan Ward-Smith, who came into camp yesterday along with Hodgson to provide injury cover, have also been released for Premiership duty.

The remaining 27 players include five who are carrying injuries - but they do provide a pointer as to England's thinking ahead of their appointment with the All Blacks at Twickenham.

The decision to release Waldouck and Barritt points firmly to a midfield of Shontayne Hape and Mike Tindall - the same pairing that started the win over Australia in Sydney - particularly with Riki Flutey struggling with a calf problem.

Payne's release suggests England are looking at Andrew Sheridan to start at loose-head prop with David Wilson, if fit from a back problem, to provide support off the bench. Paul Doran Jones has been released to feature for Gloucester this weekend.

England have kept their second row options open with Dave Attwood, Courtney Lawes and Tom Palmer all retained along with Simon Shaw, who is also carrying a suspect calf.