Wales will desperate to avoid the Wooden Spoon in this year's Champiosnhip when they play host to title-chasing England at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
England coach Brian Ashton has ignored struggling Wales' miserable RBS 6 Nations season and predicted possibly his team's "toughest game of the tournament'' on Saturday.
The world champions will arrive at the Millennium Stadium having lost just once in Cardiff since 1993.
And they still have a chance of securing Six Nations silverware, even though their points difference is considerably inferior to their title rivals France and Ireland.
Wales, in contrast, are favourites for the wooden spoon after suffering four successive defeats, including last weekend's controversial loss to resurgent Italy.
An England victory would mean a tournament whitewash for the 2005 Grand Slam champions less than six months before they launch their World Cup campaign.
Despite a demoralising run of results, under-fire Wales coach Gareth Jenkins has retained the team on duty in Rome.
And Ashton said: "With it being the last game of the championship and Wales having lost four out of four, and they are now playing England at the Millennium Stadium, means it is probably going to give them a bit between the teeth.
"It is not going to be an occasion for the faint-hearted. The Welsh are very passionate about their rugby and I am looking forward to going there.
"Wales have played some pretty good rugby in the Six Nations. It was an interesting end to the game in Italy last weekend, that is for sure, and they scored three tries against France away from home.
"If Wales get it right, they could be a very dangerous team to play against. This could be our toughest game of the tournament.''
Ashton originally made two changes from the side that ended France's Grand Slam hopes with a 26-18 victory at Twickenham last weekend but was forced into an additional change on Thursday.
Injured Gloucester centre Mike Tindall is replaced in the number 13 shirt by Mathew Tait, who makes a first Six Nations start since his debut as an 18-year-old against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in 2005.
And Ashton can find no room for Tindall's fellow World Cup winner Josh Lewsey, who misses out following an inconsistent campaign, and is replaced by Sale Sharks wing Mark Cueto at full-back.
Ashton added: "Mark Cueto has played full-back recently for Sale, and looking at the way we want to play our game, we are looking to have a player who is comfortable as a footballer with the back three.
"And an added bonus is that he is the only player in our squad who is naturally left-footed, which makes a massive difference at international level when you have right and left-footed kicking options.
"Talking with Josh last night, he is playing at 15 as he plays on the wing, and that is not what how I want a 15 to play.
"We had a long, amicable chat about this. Going forward, I see him as a wing at international level.''
While Lewsey will undoubtedly make a strong claim for England's World Cup squad, Cueto now brings his prolific try-scoring ability at Test level into a back three alongside Jason Robinson and David Strettle, which is an exciting prospect for England's supporters.
The same could be said for Tait's selection at outside centre, and there is little doubt that if the England forwards can reproduce the efforts they showed against France, then England possess a back division packed with scoring potential.
Ashton said: "Matthew Tait is incredibly quick - he is as quick as anyone in our team.
"He is a very good ball player and a very good tackler and is almost Brian O'Driscoll-like with his work in the tackle area in terms of clearing players out and pinching ball.
"I thought the criticism of him after the Wales game two years ago was harsh.
"I first saw Matthew about five years ago at the national academy and the first player that came to my mind was Jeremy Guscott.
"He is a terrific reader of the opposition's defence and he almost always picks the correct line, and that is the sort of thing we are looking for him to do on Saturday.''
Wasps forward James Haskell will make his England debut in Saturday's clash after Nick Easter was forced to withdraw with a neck injury.
The 21-year-old will start at blindside flanker, with Joe Worsley switching to number eight.
Easter is suffering from residual pain and restriction of his movement in his neck, and Haskell's promotion means England will field an all-Wasps back-row in Cardiff.
And it is also a golden chance for another of England's richly-promising young players to impress, following the example set by Toby Flood, Shane Geraghty and David Strettle against France at Twickenham last Sunday.
Haskell said: "It has been an odd week. "I have been at Wasps and with England, I've trained at number eight and number six, and I was never sure how Nick was going to be.
"So to find out that I was actually starting was very exciting.
"It has been a pretty rapid ascent I suppose, but I've always tried to approach each game one at a time, whether it's Wasps one week and (England) sevens the next, and learn from each performance and each area as I go.
"I learnt a lot from playing sevens last year, and playing for England Saxons was a step up again.
"I just concentrate on my game and keep my head down and let others worry about the big decisions. I just want to go out and perform."
The 6ft 3in Haskell has been in outstanding form for Wasps this season, having made his first team debut as an 18-year-old.
He has represented England at under-18s under-19 and under-21 levels, in addition to playing for England Saxons - formerly England A - this term.
Haskell also played for England in last year's non-cap game against the Barbarians at Twickenham.
With Tait promoted to the starting line-up, his Newcastle colleague Jamie Noon features on the bench, joining England's match-day 22 for the first time in this season's Six Nations.
Captain Phil Vickery (concussion), fly-half Jonny Wilkinson (hamstring) and centre Andy Farrell (back) were all unavailable for selection, and in Wilkinson's case that now means him missing a 32nd out of England's last 35 Tests.
Toby Flood will continue in the number 10 shirt after an impressive full debut against France, although he (leg), stand-in skipper Mike Catt (hamstring) have rested for much of this week at England's Bath University base.
Ashton said: "Jonny needs to get himself fit and ready to play again. I am sure he is looking forward to a run of games between now and the end of the season.
"And when Andy Farrell gets back playing for his club, we will look and see what sort of form he is in.
"He has had some unfair criticism from a lot of people, a lot of whom should know better.
"Andy has been one of our more consistent performers, which is quite an achievement at international level given he has hardly played any rugby union.''
The countries have met on 114 occasions - England lead the series 52-50, with 12 draws.
Wales captain Stephen Jones has been forced to withdraw from Saturday's clash with England after suffering a fractured bone in his wrist.
Gareth Thomas comes into the starting XV at inside centre and takes over as captain, with James Hook moving to fly-half.
Jones had been named in the Wales team on Tuesday after recovering from a blow to the head he suffered in the 23-20 defeat to Italy last weekend.
He also damaged his wrist in Rome but was passed fit to start until he aggravated the injury in training.
X-rays on Tuesday night revealed he had suffered a fracture.
Jones is expected to be out for up to three weeks, which also makes him a doubt for the Llanelli Scarlets' Heineken Cup quarter-final against Munster on March 30.
Wales head coach Gareth Jenkins said: "Stephen has been nothing short of inspirational in camp over the last few days and this is by no means ideal preparation for what is an important week for us all.
"However we are all confident James Hook will be able to change position and meet the challenge presented to him and Alfie's (Thomas) inclusion has positive implications both psychologically and for rugby reasons.
"We are in the privileged position of being able to call upon a player of his immense captaincy pedigree, rugby history and leadership talents to fill the void left by Stephen's injury."
Jenkins decided to replace Thomas as captain and appointed Jones in the build-up to the autumn international series.
Jenkins added: "It is a credit to him (Thomas) that he responded so positively to his country's call when asked to do the job.
"This is an important weekend for Welsh rugby and Alfie has the capacity to come into the captaincy role and lift everyone. He was the natural candidate to fill in as captain for this game once we realised Stephen was not going to make it."
Wales physio Mark Davies claimed Jones had returned to training because he had recovered sufficiently from the eye and wrist injuries sustained against Italy in Rome.
"He was made available for selection before aggravating the problem in training," said Davies.
"A scan revealed an uncommon injury in the form of a break to a small bone in his right wrist, which limits his ability to function.
"As a result the wrist will be put in a splint and immobilised for the next two to three weeks. The problem doesn't require surgery."
With Thomas now in the starting XV, Ceri Sweeney has been promoted onto the bench.
Wales let a seven-point lead slip against the Azzurri last weekend as they fell to a 23-20 defeat, which leaves them facing a potential wooden spoon.
But Jenkins has kept faith with his men - and challenged them to repay that belief with a victory.
"The message is not that we got everything right last week, but that we believe this group of players is capable of getting it right - and capable of beating England," said Jenkins.
"They have a second chance as a group to prove what they can do and we are all backing them to do it.
"We haven't won a game in this championship and that hurts the whole squad and management team - but we said we had been able to select our strongest side against Italy and we still believe that to be true and have endorsed that selection this weekend.
"There are things we need to change on match day to come away with a win, but the selection process we have gone through tells us that this is the right team to beat England.
"There was a danger of making changes for changes sake and when we took all of the emotion out of the defeat last weekend and looked at the facts it became obvious to us that we have the right players in the right places.
"We have learned a harsh lesson and the same players have the chance to prove they can be better than that.
"We don't think we are very far away from putting the kind of performances together that will start winning us matches."
Jones has not won any of the six Tests in which he has captained Wales and there had been suggestions he should be removed from the firing line.
The 29-year-old admitted the attention and criticism that has come his way over the last two months has been an "eye-opener".
But Jenkins backed his captain to the hilt and insisted Jones is invaluable.
"Stephen has recovered from the impact injury which forced him to leave the field against the Azzurri and we are confident he is fit to lead the team again against England," Jenkins said.
"It is a major boost to the side that the captain will be able to take to the field.
"Stephen's contribution is invaluable, he has been inspirational and hugely encouraging to the squad as we lift ourselves this week and he is a huge leader.
"The strengths that we see from Stephen inside the camp may not be obvious to everyone on the outside, but he brings an emotional intensity and positive input to his leadership role that makes him invaluable to this team."
Key Battles:
TOM SHANKLIN (Wales) v MATHEW TAIT (England)
Cardiff Blues centre Shanklin is one of the most consistent midfield operators in European rugby, offering Wales a real focal point with regard to their attacking game. Experienced, composed and organised, he could prove a major threat to English victory hopes.
Tait makes a first Six Nations start since events in Cardiff two years ago, when England lost 11-9, he was substituted and then dropped for the next game against France. Now 21, and with seven more caps under his belt, the Newcastle star's pace, running angles and understated defensive work make him pretty much the complete package.JAMES HOOK (Wales) v TOBY FLOOD (England)
Fly-half Hook is rated among the hottest young prospects on planet rugby, and he now gets his chance in the number 10 shirt after skipper Stephen Jones withdrew through injury. So much is expected from him as a 21-year-old, but if he delivers, then he represents probably Wales' best chance of victory.
Flood, who is six weeks younger than Hook, performed with a maturity way beyond his years when England ended French Grand Slam hopes at Twickenham last Sunday. It was the Newcastle player's full Test debut, but he oozed confidence and looked completely at ease in the pressure cooker atmosphere of international rugby. The battle with Hook should provide riveting viewing.CHRIS HORSMAN (Wales) v TIM PAYNE (England)
Worcester prop Horsman is rated among the most destructive scrummagers in the Guinness Premiership, and he will need to confirm that reputation if Wales are to make headway against, at least on paper, a stronger England front five. Can also suffer discipline lapses though, as his knack of collecting yellow cards proves.
Wasps loosehead Payne took consistent club form into the international arena last weekend, making a favourable impression opposite the vastly experienced French prop Pieter de Villiers. He will know all about Horsman, and neither player will take a backward step.MARTYN WILLIAMS (Wales) v TOM REES (England)
Openside flanker Williams has proved comfortably Wales' best forward during a difficult Six Nations campaign, and he is a proven performer at the highest level who England perhaps fear more than any of his team-mates. A master of the breakdown arts, a punishing tackler and a supreme support runner, there are few better than the Cardiff Blues number seven.
Wasps ace Rees delivered the best display by an England openside since Neil Back retired, as France were toppled 26-18 five days ago. Rees looked the real deal, but tomorrow's encounter will prove a step up against a player he holds in the highest regard as a shining example to all aspiring young flankers.Match Facts:
England's record win was a 50-10 success at Twickenham in 2002, while Wales boast a best of 25-0 (Cardiff, 1905).
A Wales defeat on Saturday would see them suffer a Six Nations whitewash just two years after they won the title and Grand Slam.
England have not won away from home since February last year, losing five successive Tests on the road against Scotland, France, Australia (twice) and Ireland.
An England victory would give them four wins in this season's championship and guarantee a best Six Nations campaign since their 2003 Grand Slam success.
Wales have only beaten England once in Cardiff since 1993, losing five out of six games, including a 2003 World Cup warm-up game.
England average just over 30 points a time from four previous visits to the Millennium Stadium.
Mark Cueto will make his first appearance at full-back for England on Saturday after 18 starts - and 13 tries - on the wing.
Wales have just a 20% success rate from 10 Tests since Gareth Jenkins was appointed head coach last year.
The 2007 Six Nations title will be decided on points difference between three teams if France, Ireland and England all win their final games on Saturday, but England are outsiders if that scenario unfolds.
Wales: K Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons); M Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), G Thomas (Toulouse, C), S Williams (Ospreys); J Hook (Ospreys), D Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), C Horsman (Worcester), I Gough (Newport Gwent Dragons), A-W Jones (Ospreys), A Popham (Llanelli Scarlets), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys).Replacements: TR Thomas (Cardiff Blues), D Jones (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), B Cockbain (Ospreys), J Thomas (Ospreys), M Phillips (Cardiff Blues), C Sweeney (Dragons)
England: Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks); D Strettle (Harlequins), M Tait (Newcastle), M Catt (London Irish, capt), J Robinson (Sale Sharks); T Flood (Newcastle), H Ellis (Leicester); T Payne (Wasps), G Chuter (Leicester), J White (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester), T Palmer (Wasps), J Worsley (Wasps), T Rees (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins).
Replacements: L Mears (Bath), S Turner (Sale Sharks), L Deacon (Leicester), M Lund (Sale Sharks), S Perry (Bristol), S Geraghty (London Irish), J Noon (Newcastle).