PAUL COLLINGWOOD has warned England to treat Bangladesh like world champions Australia or risk becoming the minnows' first Test scalp.

Bangladesh go into their two-Test series with England, which begins in Dhaka tomorrow, having lost 23 and drawn one of their 24 Test matches.

They were thrashed twice in Australia in July, but last month they came within just one wicket of embarrassing Pakistan in Multan.

The arrival of former Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore as the Bangladesh supremo has aided their quest to become a more competitive Test force.

Collingwood wants England to be on their guard after taking advice from Durham colleagues Martin Love and Shoaib Akhtar.

He said: "Playing Bangladesh in their backyard will be tough. Martin Love played against them in Cairns and Darwin, and he said they're an improving side.

"He said they certainly weren't as bad as the last time he played them.

"Shoaib Akhtar also told me Bangladesh gave Pakistan a scare in the last Test, when they only won by one wicket.

"They're obviously getting better all the time and we're going to have to be careful.

"Bangladesh is a different culture and a different environment, and it's a hard place to tour.

"You have to be careful with the food and drink, so it's important we take enough vitamins and minerals. And the poverty is similar to India, if not worse.

"But I'm sure that if we approach the series as if we were playing Australia, we'll be fine."

Collingwood is fully fit again after proving his recovery from a dislocated shoulder in the last month of the English season with Durham.

He would have probably made his Test debut against Zimbabwe last May, but as he was sidelined Robert Key and Anthony McGrath failed to press their claims.

The 27-year-old is now on standby for his five-day bow alongside county teammate Stephen Harmison and he cannot wait to face Bangladesh.

Collingwood added: "It's going to be a massive challenge. I've never played Test cricket before and I'm looking forward to the opportunity.

"I've started afresh again, even though I only had a couple of weeks' break. My energy levels are very high because I hardly played any cricket in the summer.

"If I can take one positive from my injury, it's that I've had a rest.

"I've done a lot of training, so I feel fit and raring to go, and mentally I'm very fresh."