England boss Clive Woodward has set the scene for his side's clash with the Wallabies by predicting: "It is going to be a great Test match."

England are chasing their third successive victory against the Wallabies, a feat they have never accomplished in 93 years and 26 previous meetings.

But Woodward has no doubt his players will earn every accolade that comes their way if they can send Australia packing, just 46 weeks before World Cup 2003 kicks off Down Under.

While the England supremo has dismissed Saturday's 75,000 sell-out clash as having any bearing on next year's global spectacular, the race for psychological pre-tournament grid positions is under way.

With the All Blacks' scalp already collected this autumn, England will complete stage two of a potential southern hemisphere clean sweep by beating Australia just seven days before South Africa come calling.

And while the build-up towards New Zealand was dominated by repeated talk of the players All Blacks coach John Mitchell had left behind, there is no such backdrop to Saturday's showdown.

"We have won this fixture the last two years, but this is the strongest team Australia have put out in that time, and it is something you look forward to," Woodward said.

"It is a great match-up, and a significant game for both teams. It is a big benchmark.

"Eddie Jones (Wallabies coach) has come here full-on. He is not resting players, and this is going to be a great Test match, a special game.

"You want to play these big games, and I don't think that Australia have got any fear about coming here. It's about putting everything on the line."

Woodward is the first to admit that England will require a significant improvement in many areas of their performance after struggling home against New Zealand by three points, despite holding a 31-14 lead early in the second-half.

"There was no euphoria in the dressing room last weekend. We were delighted to beat New Zealand, but we knew that we weren't anywhere near the standards we could get to," he added.

England's preparations to face the Wallabies have not proved trouble-free, with Gloucester prop Trevor Woodman being ruled out through injury, while his fellow front-row man Phil Vickery (knee) and centre Will Greenwood (knee) only passed fitness tests on Thursday.

Australia also encountered their fair share of injury troubles this week, but Jones can still field a powerful starting XV, especially up-front, where England expect a ferocious contest.

"We feel that this is the best pack they could select," said England assistant coach Andy Robinson.

"They've got a powerful front-row, and the battle between hookers Steve Thompson and Jeremy Paul is going to be immense.

"We all know about Justin Harrison, while his second-row partner Dan Vickerman came through strongly during the Super 12 tournament, and the back-row has got good balance.

"Number eight Toutai Kefu is on top of his game, and Matt Cockbain is an under-rated player who has always performed well against England. It is a good pack, but our guys are relishing the challenge."

No-one more than Jason Leonard, who has a point to prove after being recalled for his 98th cap as Woodman's replacement, a year since he last started an England Test.

"If Jason didn't have the hunger, then he wouldn't be selected," said Robinson, refuting any suggestion that the magical 100-cap barrier might now be 34-year-old Leonard's sole motivation.

"There are a lot of quality loosehead props around at the moment, and Jason has had to perform for his club, which he's done. He is not counting the caps."

Woodward added: "Jason thinks he should be in the team anyway - he's playing very well for his club. It's tough on Trevor Woodman, he had an outstanding game against New Zealand, but these things happen.

"It's a huge opportunity for Jason. He is not there to make the numbers up, he is there to tell everyone that he is the best loosehead in the country. That's what he wants to do."

Woodward insists that England will put an emphasis on scoring tries, trying to win in the grand manner, but history suggests it is something they've found difficult against world rugby's most renowned defensive unit.

In the last five England-Australia meetings, Woodward's men have collected just four tries, so their creativity promises to be tested.

Australia, despite struggling past Argentina and then losing to Ireland for the first time in 23 years, significantly haven't leaked a try on their current four-Test tour, underlining that England must be both inventive and incredibly patient.

Ultimately though, it could once again come down to what many of England's significant recent victories have been built around - Jonny Wilkinson's prodigious left boot.

After conceding four tries to the All Blacks, England's defensive mastermind Phil Larder will have demanded a major improvement in that critical area, and given the Wallabies' continuing expertise there, goalkickers Wilkinson and Matt Burke could hold sway.

It wouldn't be the first time that Wilkinson - averaging more than 15 points a game during his 36-Test career - has steered England home.

But in a game as tight and tense as tomorrow's should be, he has the credentials and composure to make a telling difference.