Wasps centre Riki Flutey believes that he is ready to challenge friend and rival Shontayne Hape for the England No.12 jersey at this year's Rugby World Cup in his native New Zealand.

The 31-year-old has struggled to find his best form and fitness for Wasps this season, following a brief stint in the Top 14 with Brive, and lost his place in the England midfield to fellow New Zealander Hape.

But Flutey, whose international chances were hampered by a calf injury and swine flu earlier in the season, thinks he is close to regaining the kind of form that made him a permanent fixture in the England setup.

"I want to get out there and play with a smile on my face, control what I can control, and put pressure on the selectors," he said. "That's definitely my main aim [to regain the No.12 jersey].

"Shontayne and I are good mates and I'm sure we will put a lot of pressure on each other to perform well for the team and develop as players ourselves. If you have not only a team-mate there but a good friend, then you are going to develop into a better player."

Hape's limited impact on England's attacking game led to criticism during the Six Nations, with suggestions that Martin Johnson's team required greater variety in midfield. But Flutey defended his rival's contribution to England's campaign.

"I thought he went well," he said. "He got over the gain line well and he threw a couple of offloads and created a couple of try-scoring opportunities. I'm sure he knows the things he can learn from the Six Nations."

Flutey, who has won 14 international caps for his adopted country, left New Zealand in 2005 and the prospect of playing in a World Cup back home remains a massive goal for the former Hurricanes centre.

Following Wasps' Amlin Challenge Cup exit to Harlequins last Friday, Flutey has just three club games left in which to convince the England selectors ahead of their warm-up internationals against Wales and Ireland.

"From my point of view that [to play in the World Cup] is the ultimate goal," he said. "And all the players in the Premiership have that in the back of their mind. If I did get the opportunity to go with England to New Zealand, not only for me, but also for my friends and family, it would be amazing. I've had lots of messages from friends and family wishing me all the best in the next three games ahead of selection of the wider squad."

The All Blacks continue to set the standard on the international stage, with a host of their players already impressing for the in-form Crusaders in Super Rugby. Flutey, a former New Zealand Maori international, is eager to test himself against his fellow Kiwis, especially inside-centre Sonny Bill Williams.

"I'm sure a lot of those Crusaders boys will be in the All Blacks side come the end of the season because the way they are playing at the moment is just fantastic," Flutey said.

"Sonny Bill has been playing fantastically well in Super Rugby and he has the physique and all the skills in the world. I am sure he's going to be a massive player in the All Black jersey. But that's what we look for as professional rugby players, you want to be playing at the top of your sport and playing against some of the best players in the world and if I get the opportunity to play against Sonny Bill that would be fantastic."

London Wasps RFC is one of a series of Aviva Premiership Rugby clubs working with Gatorade to encourage players of all levels to stay ahead of the game and improve their performance. ESPNscrum were put through their paces with a series of rugby coaching drills and offered hydration and sweat testing by a Gatorade Sports Science Institute scientist to highlight the effects of intensive training on the body. Gatorade is the official hydration partner of the Aviva Premiership.