England's new regime will be given the stiffest test of its credentials in the cauldron-like atmosphere of the Wanderers today when they will discover whether their promising start is yet another false dawn.

Promising warm-up victories in Bloemfontein and particularly at Centurion Park against an international-style line-up have ensured that the tourists enter the opening Test against South Africa brimming with confidence and self-belief.

But all too often England have flattered to deceive in recent years, a brilliant one-off performance regularly being followed by a shattering defeat to establish them as deserved underdogs and lying bottom of the unofficial Test rankings.

Captain Nasser Hussain is well aware of the need to perform. "We're a bit low at the moment in cricket and the boys over here understand that and that everybody at home wants us to do well," he said.

Hussain is aware England's promising start to the tour could raise expectations to an unrealistically high level and is anxious none of the supporters who have flown in for this Test get carried away by their recent results.

"Just because we've had a couple of good victories, I don't want anybody thinking we've turned the corner and a new, young side is going to come out here and beat the experience of South Africa 4-0 or 5-0 because that is not going to happen," he insisted.

There have already been glimpses of the talent and character of the new-look squad, with youngsters Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff both contributing to their early victories while Sussex batsman Chris Adams has also made progress on his first England tour.

Those talents and the experience of Hussain, Michael Atherton, Alec Stewart and Darren Gough will be crucial if England are to upset a South African side who have won their last nine home Tests and made no secret of their desire to avenge their 2-1 series defeat 18 months ago.