Mike Catt will renew World Cup hostilities with Australia today admitting England are ''huge underdogs'' to maintain their grip on the Webb Ellis Trophy.

The 36-year-old centre makes a 12th Test match appearance against the Wallabies in as many years after answering England head coach Brian Ashton's SOS to replace an injured Andy Farrell.

Catt's 73rd cap - he moves above Will Carling on the all-time England list - coincides with the reigning world champions fighting for their lives to stay afloat in a tournament after South Africa seemingly sunk them without trace three weeks ago.

A spirited recovery that produced bonus-point victories over Samoa and Tonga has at least given England a fighting chance of dumping Australia from World Cup contention for the third time in four tournaments.

But the Wallabies start as red-hot favourites, even though today's local forecast for Stade Velodrome suggests an English-style downpour following a week of temperatures in the high 20s.

Catt, axed after the Springboks shambles, got the nod for the number 12 shirt ahead of Olly Barkley, who has not recovered from the dead leg he suffered in training with Newcastle's Toby Flood taking his place on the bench.

For Catt though, it is an opportunity to play alongside Jonny Wilkinson for the first time since England's 2003 World Cup semi-final victory over France in Sydney.

He said: ''It has been pretty disappointing, personally, over the past four weeks, so this is another chance for me to get out there and perform.

''I have always said never say never, and two days in rugby union is a long time, going from being number three to number one.

''Things happen, and unfortunately 'Faz' has picked up an injury and Olly Barkley has a knock.

''I haven't played with Wilko for four years, so I am looking forward to being next to him on the pitch.

''A lot of things have happened in the past four years, so we will just see how the game progresses. We need to work as a pairing in terms of our decision-making.''

The kicking games of both players are likely to be employed far more than any attacking adventure, judging by the power-packed forward unit Ashton has selected.

And if England do progress towards a Paris semi-final against New Zealand or France next week, the 30,000 red rose supporters expected to throng Marseille cannot expect to enjoy a try-fest.

But after the demoralising events that unfolded against South Africa, even a quarter-final place could not have been taken for granted.

Catt added: ''I know when you play a bad international, I accept it and put my hand up, but as a team we didn't perform either, apart from probably Jason Robinson.

''All of us realise that things went horribly wrong in the South Africa game.

''We just didn't have any structure in our game. South Africa were very good in how they stuck to a game plan, whereas with us the understanding wasn't there.

''But that was three weeks ago, and a lot of water has passed under the bridge. There has been a lot of discussions since then, and we seem to be back on track and going in the right direction.

''Whether we have gone as far as we want to be, I am not really sure. We are going in the right direction, but we are huge underdogs.''

If England are eliminated, then it will be full-back Jason Robinson's final Test match before retirement, and defeat could also signal the end of glittering international careers for people like Catt, Lawrence Dallaglio, Phil Vickery and Martin Corry.

But defiant boss Ashton said: ''We are not even talking about going home, to be honest.

''The whole five weeks (in France) has been difficult from a whole variety of points of view.

''There is massive anticipation about this game. I don't think we share the same sense of outcome of the game as a lot of other people do.''

Teams: England: J Robinson (unattached); P Sackey (Wasps), M Tait (Newcastle), Mike Catt (Wasps) J Lewsey (Wasps); J Wilkinson (Newcastle), A Gomarsall (Harlequins); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), M Regan (Bristol), P Vickery (Wasps, capt), S Shaw (Wasps), B Kay (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester), L Moody (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: G Chuter (Leicester), M Stevens (Bath), L Dallaglio (Wasps), J Worsley (Wasps), P Richards (London Irish), O Barkley (Bath), D Hipkiss (Leicester).

Australia: C Latham (Queensland Reds); A Ashley-Cooper (ACT Brumbies), S Mortlock (ACT Brumbies, capt), M Giteau (Western Force), L Tuqiri (NSW Waratahs); B Barnes (Queensland Reds), G Gregan (ACT Brumbies); M Dunning (NSW Waratahs), S Moore (Queensland Reds), G Shepherdson (ACT Brumbies), N Sharpe (Western Force), D Vickerman (NSW Waratahs), R Elsom (NSW Waratahs), G Smith (ACT Brumbies), W Palu (NSW Waratahs).

Replacements: A Freier (NSW Waratahs), A Baxter (NSW Waratahs), H McMeniman (Queensland Reds), S Hoiles (ACT Brumbies), P Waugh (NSW Waratahs), J Huxley (ACT Brumbies), D Mitchell (Western Force).

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).