England fly-half Charlie Hodgson is determined to thrive on the pressure of the occasion when they take on Argentina in Buenos Aires tomorrow.

Sale fly-half Hodgson steps into the international No.10 spot for what will be the biggest test of his career.

The game is sure to be a far cry from Hodgson's international debut last November, scoring an England record 43 points during a century spree against hapless Twickenham visitors Romania.

But England boss Clive Woodward is looking for the 21-year-old Yorkshireman to play another starring role, albeit in hugely different circumstances.

"This is a great opportunity for me," he said. "Clive has given me the chance to play in a game that will have a hostile atmosphere, and it will be a superb learning experience.

"My opinion hasn't changed about Jonny (Wilkinson). He is clearly ahead of me, but he is there to be overtaken, and I could hardly have a better opportunity to show the coaches what I can do.

"It is up to me to control the game and play to the way that Clive wants me to dictate it," he added.

"It's difficult to say what it will be like out there on Saturday - I won't have experienced anything similar before - but I think that I will be able to handle it all right.

"I like pressure, and this is exactly the sort of thing that you have got to overcome."

"Everything has been way beyond any expectation that I could have had, and I must thank everyone at Sale, especially my half-back partner Bryan Redpath, who is a tremendous influence and has taken an awful lot of pressure off me."

"It is a very weighty responsibility to keep the ball away from their forwards and keep the pace of the game up," Hodgson added.

"Argentina tend to use route one, and they are bound to come down my channel, so I know what to expect."

Woodward, for one, is relishing the chance to see one of England's brightest young talents receive such a stern examination.

"I am looking forward to seeing Charlie play," he said.

"This will be his first start against a team of genuine Test match quality, and it's a big opportunity for him. He is an outstanding player, and it is critical for us to have a genuine option at number 10."