The number 111 has figured prominently in England's build-up to Sunday's quarter-final here.

First they stuck that exact tally of points on Uruguay last weekend and now their match against Wales has been lent an extra frisson by Jason Leonard's impending 111th cap for his country, equalling the world Test appearance record.

Leonard has effectively already surpassed France's Philippe Sella by virtue of playing five Tests for the Lions but, at 35, is still going sufficiently strongly to have squeezed past Gloucester's Trevor Woodman as the starting loose-head prop.

With the exception of the flanker Richard Hill's persistent injury problems, the side has an increasingly settled look about it. Leicester's Lewis Moody will once again deputise for Hill in the back row and Matt Dawson continues to win the nod at scrum-half ahead of Kyran Bracken, who will chalk up his 50th cap should he come off the bench.

With the outhalf Jonny Wilkinson also set for his personal half-century, the coach Clive Woodward felt the need to remind people what really counts this Sunday. "This is about England winning at the weekend, not about Jason winning his 111th cap," he stressed. "There's no sentiment involved here at all; he's in the team on merit. We want to get on the plane to Sydney, not London, on Monday."

If England lose to Wales for the first time since 1999, the saga of Hill's fitness will also become irrelevant but the management are still hoping his stubborn hamstring strain, which has now sidelined their most consistent forward for four games, will heal in time for him to be involved if they make it to a semi-final in Sydney against either France or Ireland.

For a nasty moment in training yesterday it looked as though England might be about to lose another experienced figure when Mike Catt was taken away in a neck brace for x-rays after an awkward collision. But he was cleared of any lasting damage and has been named on the bench, alongside his fit-again Bath club-mate Iain Balshaw and the newly arrived Simon Shaw.

Wales, who will confirm their line-up tomorrow morning, have beaten England only once in the last 11 meetings between the countries but their inspired performance against New Zealand has ensured England are treating them with exaggerated respect.

Woodward has been talking repeatedly about "the fear factor" his side must overcome and his assistant coach Phil Larder admitted he had been "tremendously impressed" by Wales's attacking effort against the All Blacks, highlighting their tally of 10 clean line-breaks.

"I know we have kept something up our sleeves but I'm sure they have too," said Larder, particularly concerned that some of England's players may be in danger of underestimating Wales's fast-improving cross-code signing Iestyn Harris.

ENGLAND (v Wales):J Lewsey, J Robinson, W Greenwood, M Tindall, B Cohen; J Wilkinson, M Dawson; J Leonard, S Thompson, P Vickery, M Johnson (capt), B Kay, L Moody, N Back, L Dallagion. Replacements: D West, T Woodman, S Shaw, J Worsley, K Bracken, M Catt, I Balshaw.