The anticipation is rising ahead of Saturday's opening match in the Investec Challenge Series at Twickenham - and with good reason.

England and Australia have enjoyed some titanic tussles in recent years - none more so than the World Cup clashes of 2003 and 2007 - and this one promises to be no different, even if the personnel is!

Pack-tice: England's scrum can expect to come under heavy pressure

After a run of six defeats the Wallabies will be desperate to deliver a victory for coach Robbie Deans against an injury-hit England side that is galvanised by Jonny Wilkinson's first appearance in national colours for 18 months.

But will his presence inspire Martin Johnson's inexperienced side to glory or will the visitors - who have put their faith in a centre pairing of Quade Cooper and Digby Ioane - prove too hot to handle?

Miles Harrison, who will be commentating on the game, assesses each team's chances with skysports.com.

England are really going to target this Australia side because the Wallabies have not had the best of seasons. They lost again to New Zealand at the weekend but played some good rugby in the first half and they probably should have won a few more games than they did. Are they ready to turn that corner?

MILES REPLIES: Australia may well be nearer to the corner than some people think and, yes, they were not far away last Saturday. We also must remember that the losing streak has been against the other Tri-Nation teams. But, that said, there was nothing to suggest in Tokyo last week that the Wallabies cannot be beaten at Twickenham this weekend. However, that depends on England too and I'm sure you will ask me about my prediction later!

In the past, the scrum has been an issue for Australia against England. However, with all England's front-row injuries, can Australia settle the score up front?

MILES REPLIES: If you recall, the score was evened up a little last year when the Wallabies put in a much better scrummaging effort to help them to, in the end, a convincing win in London. For Al Baxter, it was a personal moment of triumph that was long overdue. Baxter is not over here this autumn but the improvement in the Australian scrum in general has continued over the last year. Props Benn Robinson and Ben Alexander are justifiably earning a lot of respect from their opponents. Indeed, last Saturday, the Wallaby pack was, at times, clearly giving New Zealand the shove-around. From an England point of view, the injuries to key props are not ideal but the men coming in are highly competent at what they do. Bath's Davie Wilson has been on England's radar for some time and it will be fascinating to see how he goes in a match of this nature, especially on the back of so little rugby this season. But, I spoke to him in the week and he feels fit and raring to go.

England have not really achieved anything beyond the reach of Brian Ashton. Isn't it time for Martin Johnson to justify Rob Andrew's decision and deliver?

MILES REPLIES: After last season's highly-disappointing autumn series, England fans need to see certain improvements 12 months on, with the headlines being: (1) a clear and visible structure to their team's on-field plans with those plans being executed at the pace demanded by the top international game; (2) greater discipline and more composure under pressure; and (3) better efficiency at the breakdown to clear quick ball. If they see all three, then there is every chance that the supporters will also see number (4) - victories. One thing that has been denied to Martin Johnson over the last few weeks has been continuity of selection and that is frustrating. But England is a rugby nation with a big playing base and that should always allow them to cope with injuries, even on this scale. And, to be fair, Johnson has already said that, although this number of injuries is unprecedented in his experience at this level, those injuries will be no excuse.

If England win say 9-6 thanks to Wilkinson, will that be good enough?

MILES REPLIES: It depends on what type of 9-6 it is! I've seen some classic performances from sides that have done everything but score a try and the reason why they didn't score one was because the opposition gave the crucial penalties away and the kicker punished them for doing so. But, I am being a little facetious there; I know what you mean and this brings to a head the big issue - is it about performance or the win?

Most simplistically it is nearly always true that, if you perform, then the win looks after itself because the two are not mutually exclusive you know! But England need to play in a manner that suggests they are moving forward in a way that, in the future, will make sure they win more than they lose. They need to become the side that can play what they see in front of them and tailor their cloth accordingly. But, 'performance' does not necessarily mean throwing the ball around at every opportunity. Indeed, nearly all the really big games are won by the smallest of margins and by the team who can find the way to win in the tightest of situations. That could be through a try or it could be a kick - whatever route is taken, the best teams get to the score that matters. And undoubtedly, the best way to keep winning is to build the confidence gained from learning how to win by 'performing' in those tight spots.

Also, on this issue of 'win' or 'performance' I always feel that people can get too obsessed with World Cup plans. World Cups happen every four years and we should not neglect the importance of the events in between. And it seems to me that World Cups are not necessarily won by the side going into the competition with the best preparation or results. Look at the last World Cup - England were down and out in the Pool stages but turned it around within the confines of the tournament and nearly won the thing. New Zealand have regularly frightened the wits out of teams either side of World Cups but haven't managed to land the pot since 1987. World Cup preparations are important because you need to build that pool of players who know how to win but these games are being played now and people are spending good money to see them now and they want to see their side win this weekend. That is something Martin Johnson has always understood too.

This game has been talked up as the return of Jonny Wilkinson. How good is Wilkinson playing compared to his 2003 form?

MILES REPLIES: I can totally understand why Jonny's return has been talked up from a promotional and media point of view; it's a great story. Having said that, rugby is a team game, perhaps the ultimate one and the man himself would be the first to acknowledge this. However, having Wilkinson back gives all those players around him a great feeling of security and therefore the chance to star as well. He is a winner and he is playing well and thoroughly deserves his recall. And what England fans would love to see is not only his sure-footedness of the World Cup Final 2003 but a return to the form of those games before the World Cup that year and in 2001 and 2002. He really did look a world-beater then. I am sure he will kick his goals again and make those trademark tackles too but if he gets the backline moving as we saw in those days of the early noughties - then England fans will be in for a treat.

Above all though, I am just delighted for him. I am sure I am not alone when I say that I thought it was over for Wilkinson - how could he possibly bear all those injuries and bounce back again? Well he did and he has, and it says volumes about him as a person. He is a true great of the game because of his amazingly competitive nature and his dedication to his craft. These qualities have enabled him to deliver the key performances at the key moments. He has done it when it mattered most and you can never take that away from him. And the best thing is that he now has the chance to show the world that he can do so again. That super interview on the Rugby Club with Will Greenwood also revealed a more balanced Jonny - liberated to enjoy every moment for what it is worth. Good luck to him.

Against New Zealand, Australia really committed their players to the breakdown and were very physical in the first 40. Do you expect more of the same against England?

MILES REPLIES: Yes, the breakdown has been the biggest issue for Northern Hemisphere rugby for more time than I care to remember. For England, the days of Hill, Back and Dallaglio seem a long time ago. The loss of Harlequins' in-form Nick Easter is a blow but there is other proven high quality talent in this back-row of Tom Croft and Lewis Moody, plus a man that now has the chance to show what he can do, Jordan Crane. The Tiger trio know each other well and they must let Australia know all about them too this Saturday. The All Blacks and Richie McCaw wait on the horizon and, before then, the foraging Pumas will be up for the breakdown battle too. England will only get their victories this autumn if the back-row does a job on the opposition.

Both sides have had some major injuries - who will be affected the most?

MILES REPLIES: Irrelevant! Okay, Mortlock and, especially Barnes, given the way Australian were planning to play in these games, are big misses for Australia but you could easily argue so too are a fit Sheridan, Vickery and Shaw for England, for example. But when it boils down to it - this is England versus Australia this Saturday and not any other day and the only ones who matter are the ones running onto the field tomorrow at 2.26pm. Did it matter that Kevin Pietersen did not play at the Oval?

Have you got a prediction?

MILES REPLIES: Australia will be dangerous - this is a Grand Slam tour and it is too big a deal for them to be anything less than up for it. At the end of the Tri-Nations, I witnessed an Australian sporting team do something that I have never seen before - that is, throw the towel in. I am sure this will not happen again and certainly not against England at Twickenham. The Wallabies, to a man, are confident with the ball in hand. If England make mistakes at the set-piece or do not show sufficient pace around the field getting to the breakdown, then Australia could hurt them. But the home side needs this win badly too at the start of a very important series of games for them. I think England will find that way to win - but it will need sharp decision-making and authority from not just Wilkinson but those around him, like Danny Care and Shane Geraghty, because the Wallabies will have enough willpower to find the cracks should they start to emerge.

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