Martin Corry will lead England into their most important Test match since the 2003 World Cup final on Friday night, claiming: ''Captaincy is not something I strive for.''
Despite England's World Cup captain Phil Vickery being available again after serving a two-match ban, Corry has retained the reins he held against South Africa and Samoa.
Tighthead prop Matt Stevens' form means Vickery is consigned to the bench for England's tournament eliminator against Tonga at Parc des Princes.
It also hands Corry the key task of steering England towards a quarter-final appointment with Australia, almost nine months after he lost the job to Vickery.
Corry said: ''I thought 'Vicks' would come back but he is on the bench. He will come on at some stage, and as soon as he comes on he will take his rightful role as captain.
''Captaincy is not something I strive for. The most important thing for me is that I am in the starting XV.
''If people feel I am suitable to be the captain then great. If not, I am equally happy.''
Reflecting on Ashton's decision to appoint Vickery last January, Corry added: ''Brian rang me up and told me he wanted 'Vicks' as captain.
''He told me the reasons why. I fully understood his reasons for it and I said then if I was in Brian's shoes I would have done exactly the same thing."
Vickery was suspended for tripping United States centre Paul Emerick during England's tournament opener, and Ashton stressed Stevens' performances have blocked his hopes of an immediate return.
Ashton said: ''Phil hasn't played for two or three weeks. Matt has scrummaged pretty well and he makes a big impact around the field when he gets the ball in his hands.
''The captaincy was a secondary issue, really.
''I suspect Phil has not been the happiest man in the World Cup tournament.
''You take your punishment. There is not a lot you can do about it.
''You have just got to live through that frustration and continue to train. He is raring to go, and he will probably get an opportunity on Friday night.''
Ashton has made two changes from the side that revived England's World Cup campaign through a 44-22 victory over Samoa in Nantes last Saturday.
Bath captain Steve Borthwick replaces Simon Shaw in the second row alongside Ben Kay, with Leicester's Lewis Moody named at openside flanker instead of Joe Worsley.
It will be Moody's first start since Leicester were beaten by Heineken Cup final opponents Wasps in May, while his last full England appearance came against Argentina last November.
Ashton has resisted any temptation to change the back division, although he conceded it had been ''a very, very close call'' between Mathew Tait and the powerful Leicester prospect Dan Hipkiss at outside centre.
Lawrence Dallaglio, meanwhile, features among the substitutes, having missed out on the match-day 22 against both South Africa and Samoa.
Neither full-back Jason Robinson (hamstring) nor flanker Tom Rees (thigh) were available for selection.
Ashton said: ''Simon Shaw has started every game for us and been on the field the majority of that time.
''We've got a second-row forward (Borthwick) who hasn't played a lot of rugby, who is desperate to get on the field.
''It is similar with Joe Worsley. He's picked up a bang in the neck area on a couple of occasions and we are trying to look after him and keep him out of the firing line.
''Lewis Moody has not played in any starting XV during the World Cup warm-up period or in the tournament. He is very fresh and desperate to make a big impact.''
Despite England producing easily their best display of the tournament in securing a bonus-point triumph against Samoa, Ashton is well aware Tonga's form warrants significant respect.
They have already beaten the USA and Samoa, and went within five points of holding Pool A winners South Africa
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