World Cup, quarter-finals:England have spent the past four years as world champions but less than four days now remain in which to rediscover the indomitable powers of 2003. Unless they can conjure up some sort of X factor a very painful Provencal exit awaits on Saturday afternoon, and Brian Ashton's team selection today should reflect that harsh reality.

If World Cup quarter-finals are no place for crazy gambles, it is equally apparent that England's best chance lies in giving Australia cause to stop and think. Simply repeating what they have done so far in this tournament is not going to concern the Wallabies but grafting something new on to their areas of relative strength might just earn a reprieve. England can scrummage, their lineout is pretty decent and Jonny Wilkinson can kick a ball like no one else. If they can threaten in other areas anything is possible.

That, at least, is what their opponents think. Australia may have breezed through the pool stages while England have huffed and puffed but the mere sight of Andrew Sheridan at the Stade Velodrome yesterday was enough to prompt a few antipodean flutters. Back in 2005 it was his bulldozing demolition job against the Wallaby scrum at Twickenham which spelt the end of Eddie Jones's tenure as head coach. Much energy has been successfully expended on avoiding similar carnage this time around but the Sheridan (27) still looms large in the Australian psyche.

The Australian forwards coach, Michael Foley, even rates the English among "the top two packs in the world" and is not among those who reckon the Wallabies hold all the aces this weekend. "England are very strong at the scrum and they're a very good mauling side," he said.

"Whatever people are saying about England, good or bad, you cannot avoid the fact their forwards are one of the top two packs in the world, if not the best. I know we have definitely improved since 2005 but putting a figure on how much is very difficult. Saturday is the big, big litmus test for us."

In other words, Australia are not yet entirely confident of a semi-final place. Never mind that Sheridan himself is as mild-mannered off the field as he is fearsome in the gym. "There's no point patting yourself on the back for what happened two years ago," the 122kg prop replied politely when asked to proclaim himself, heavyweight-boxing style, the biggest, baddest hombre on planet rugby.

"I'm not wanting to make any big statements. We know we've got to put in a big performance, not just in the set pieces but all over the park, to win this game."

Ashton's task, therefore, is to incorporate Sheridan's power into a game plan which gives England more than one point of attack. Saturday's game will kick off at 3pm here and the mid-afternoon temperature yesterday was about 24C. It is neither the time nor the place for ageing plodders; what England need is dynamism up front, a midfield which threatens the gainline and a shrewd kicking game.

Lewis Moody looks certain to start in the backrow and, with Simon Shaw at full bore, it is possible to imagine Australian hands being full in the first hour. At that point Phil Vickery, Tom Rees and Lawrence Dallaglio could all come roaring off the bench, with Martin Corry slipping into the secondrow if necessary.

The sight of Jason Robinson on the left wing might also unsettle the impressive Chris Latham, famously left standing by the former Wigan maestro in the Lions' first-Test triumph in Brisbane in 2001. "I bet he could beat someone in a phone booth, he's got such good feet," said the Wallaby backs coach, Scott Johnson, a fully paid-up fan.

That leaves the ever-problematic midfield. It would seem sensible to play Dan Hipkiss and ask him to probe for gaps between Matt Giteau and the new boy Berrick Barnes. There remains a suspicion, too, that Wilkinson and Olly Barkley are not a complementary pairing; Ashton may be tempted to pick Andy Farrell, or Mike Catt, at number 12.

Living exclusively in the past, however, will get England nowhere. "Martin Johnson lifted the World Cup in 2003 but there's nothing we can do about it now," stressed the Wallaby flanker Phil Waugh. "It's a new tournament - this game has nothing to do with 2003."

Meanwhile Australia's players have been put on a three-line whip not to say anything derogatory about England or the English ahead of Saturday. It comes in the wake of comments made by the Australian Rugby Union chief executive, John O'Neill, who said his nation "hate" the English.

Yesterday there was no questioning Matt Giteau's sincerity about Wilkinson. Giteau, a member of the Australia 2003 World Cup squad that lost the final to Wilkinson's drop-goal believes the presence of the fly-half has an uplifting effect on a side which lost its way without him after winning the Webb Ellis Cup. "Of course he provides a lot for the team in his kicking and in his general play, but his just being in the team gives them confidence," said Giteau.

"They struggled against South Africa without him, but since then they have built up momentum and they are willing to try things when he is around. When he is not involved, they lack something.

"I do not go along with the argument that the quarter-final will be a clash of styles. We have worked very hard on our set pieces over the last two years and we are confident we can match England in that area. We will have an idea about their approach when we see who they have gone for at inside-centre. Olly Barkley and Andy Farrell are both very good players, but they have different strengths. Barkley is very skilful and quick on his feet while Farrell is more dominant and aggressive."

The Australian media have suggested the Wallabies will look to target Wilkinson and give him some old-fashioned treatment but Giteau said no plans had been drawn up for any individual and Australia will be looking to protect their own fly-half, Berrick Barnes, who made his debut against Wales in their pool match.

"We are going out to play our own game, not stop someone on the opposing side," said Giteau. "Berrick has taken to international rugby well: he is a quick learner and is cool under pressure. He was outstanding against Wales, but Saturday will be a step up."