England World Cup captain Phil Vickery has failed to reclaim a place in the starting line-up for Friday night's tournament eliminator against Tonga at Parc des Princes.

Wasps prop Vickery is available again after serving a two-match suspension for tripping United States centre Paul Emerick during England's Pool A opener.

But head coach Brian Ashton has decided to retain Bath's Matt Stevens at tight-head, with flanker Martin Corry remaining as skipper.

Ashton named Vickery as his World Cup leader way ahead of the tournament starting, but Stevens' and Corry's performances, especially against Samoa three
days ago, mean they keep their respective roles.

Vickery has to be content with a place on the bench, where he will be joined by fellow World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio.

Ashton has made two changes from the side that accounted for Samoa 44-22, a victory that kept England in the hunt for a quarter-final place.

Bath lock Steve Borthwick replaces Simon Shaw to form a second-row partnership with Ben Kay, while Leicester flanker Lewis Moody is handed the number seven shirt instead of Joe Worsley.

Dallaglio, who has not featured for England since the USA encounter, again fails to dislodge Harlequins number eight Nick Easter, although he is likely to have a part to play off the bench.

Ashton, meanwhile, has resisted any temptation to tinker with a back division boosted by Jonny Wilkinson's return from injury in the Samoa clash.

Newcastle centre Mathew Tait was thought to be under pressure for his place from Leicester's Dan Hipkiss, but Tait is retained alongside midfield colleague Olly Barkley.

England go into the Tonga game level on points with the Pacific islanders.

And their World Cup hopes will stand or fall on what happens against a side they trounced 101-10 during the 1999 World Cup.

Victory would send England into a quarter-final appointment with Australia in Marseille on October 6, but defeat guarantees an embarrassing early exit.

No reigning rugby world champion has failed to progress beyond the pool stage, yet that would be the dubious distinction collected by England if Tonga cause one of the great World Cup upsets.

Tonga captain Nili Latu is battling to be fit for his team's World Cup eliminator against England in Paris on Friday night.

Latu has been named to lead the side by head coach Quddus Fielea, but he has still to shake off a hamstring problem.

Fielea has made three changes, including one positional switch, up front following Tonga's narrow loss to Pool A winners South Africa in Lens last Saturday.

Flanker Hale T Pole returns from suspension to pack down alongside back-row colleagues Latu and Toulouse number eight Finau Maka.

Viliami Vaki, who started in the number six shirt against South Africa, moves to lock instead of an injured Paino Hehea - and will partner Lisiate Fa'aoso.

ENGLAND v TONGA MATCH FACTS

* The countries have met on one previous occasion - with England winning 101-10 at Twickenham during the 1999 World Cup, scoring 13 tries.

* There are no survivors from that game in England's starting line-up on Friday night, although substitutes Phil Vickery, Joe Worsley and Lawrence Dallaglio all featured.

* Jonny Wilkinson needs 22 points against Tonga to break Gavin Hastings' mark of 227 and become the highest points scorer in World Cup history.

* Wilkinson requires 11 points to reach 950 for England.

* An England defeat would see them become the first reigning rugby world champions not to reach the tournament's knockout stage.

* Tonga, courtesy of victories over the United States and Samoa, are enjoing the most successful World Cup in their history. They have never previously reached the quarter-finals.

* Flanker Lewis Moody will make his first England start since they lost to Argentina at Twickenham 15 Test matches ago.

* England have won their final pool game at all five previous World Cups.

* Tonga coach Quddus Fielea holds his country's record as the youngest player at a World Cup, having featured as a 19-year-old against Canada in 1987.

Teams for England versus Tonga, World Cup Pool A, tomorrow, Parc des Princes, 2000BST.

England: J Lewsey (Wasps); P Sackey (Wasps), M Tait (Newcastle), O Barkley (Bath), M Cueto (Sale Sharks); J Wilkinson (Newcastle), A Gomarsall (Harlequins); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), G Chuter (Leicester), M Stevens (Bath), S Borthwick (Bath), B Kay (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester, capt), L Moody (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: L Mears (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps), L Dallaglio (Wasps), J Worsley (Wasps), P Richards (London Irish), A Farrell (Saracens), D Hipkiss (Leicester).

Tonga: V Lilo (Fanga 'o Pilolevu); T Tu'ifua (Counties Manakau), S Hufanga (Brive), E Taione (Sanyo Wild Knights), J Vaka (World Fighting Bull); P Hola (Kobe Steel), S Tu'ipulotu (unattached); S Tonga'uiha (Northampton), A Lutui (Worcester), K Pulu (Perpignan), V Vaki (Perpignan), L Fa'aoso (Marist), H T Pole (Southland), N Latu (Bay of Plenty, capt), F Maka (Toulouse).

Replacements: E Taukafa (Lyon), T Filise (Cardiff Blues), M Molitika (Cardiff Blues), I Afeaki (Grenoble), S Havea (Marist), H Tonga'uiha (Vaini Club), A Havili (Worcester).

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).

Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa) and Christophe Berdos (France).