England and Lions prop Julian White faces a lengthy ban when he appears before Rugby Football Union disciplinary chiefs tonight.

The Leicester forward was sent off for fighting with Newcastle lock Andy Perry during a stormy Guinness Premiership clash last Friday.

Falcons boss Rob Andrew has claimed that Perry acted in self-defence before he was dismissed, but the warring forwards must now face a three-man RFU panel in Coventry.

Leicester suspended World Cup winner White with immediate effect following the 16-16 draw, but Newcastle opted not to follow their example.

White, who has been left out of England's 30-man autumn Test squad despite starting all three Lions Tests in New Zealand this year, can expect few favours from the panel after he rained blows on 6ft 5in Perry.

They are likely to adopt a hardline stance, especially given that White has a poor disciplinary record and was sent off for both his previous Premiership clubs - Bristol and Saracens - before joining Leicester.

He could be hit with a 12-week ban, or longer, which would see him miss several Heineken Cup and Premiership games, and put any future England prospects in serious doubt.

With the RFU determined to clamp down on offenders, White would appear to have little hope of avoiding a lengthy absence.

Perry could escape serious sanctions, especially if Newcastle's self-defence theory finds support.

''We will wait until we see the referee's report, and for the hearing, before deciding what, if any, action we will take,'' said Andrew.

''Having watched the video, we haven't seen anything other than our player acting in self-defence.

* World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson yesterday declared England should have nothing to fear when they start their two-year countdown to France 2007 against the might of the southern hemisphere.

After two years of disappointment, the serious work of building towards a successful defence of the Webb Ellis Trophy begins against Australia, Lion-tamers New Zealand and the tough Samoans on consecutive November weekends.

The All Blacks followed their 3-0 whitewash of the Lions with victory in the Tri-Nations, but Johnson sees their arrival at Twickenham as just the challenge Andy Robinson's new-look squad needs to kick-start their World Cup challenge.

He said: ''England aside, none of the home nations has beaten New Zealand since Wales in 1953. And that says it all - but what is there to fear?

''You have the chance to play the All Blacks. You have to grasp it, take them on and find out how good you are. If you turn the All Blacks over it will be a huge plus for the team.''

Rugby Football Union chief executive Francis Baron stated last week that England have learned from the botched World Cup in 1999 and the glory of 2003 that it takes two years to build a successful side.

Johnson is not convinced the development of a winning side is such an exact science. But he does think Robinson and his lieutenants must act now if England are to develop the required aura of invincibility.

He said: ''You have to build a belief in a team. England didn't win the close games last year. They lost to Australia, France, Wales and Ireland - four close games they could have won.

''That is what makes the difference - it is about finding a way to win those tight games.

''The 2003 World Cup final was won in the last 30 seconds. It is difficult but you need to get to a point where, in a tight game, the opposition thinks you are going to win too.

''That comes with experience and winning those tight games. New Zealand will be a very important one, Australia too, for England to start to build a belief that they can go on and compete at the highest level.''

England lost blindside flanker Joe Worsley for the autumn Tests yesterday after it was confirmed he had suffered a strained cruciate ligament in Wasps' Guinness Premiership defeat to Sale.

Worsley, who had been guaranteed a start in the England back row, will be out for four to six weeks. On that basis the earliest he could return would be the weekend of November 12, when England take on Australia, but he would still be short of sharpness and match fitness.

It is a massive blow for Worsley, who was looking forward to the November Tests as the ideal way to move on from the disappointment of missing out on the Lions tour.

''I so wanted to prove people wrong after being overlooked by the Lions. I so wanted to play against New Zealand, probably the best team in the world at the moment,'' he said.

Worsley will also miss Wasps' Heineken Cup appointments with Edinburgh and defending champions Toulouse.