Ashley Giles is warning his England team-mates to prepare for the long haul in Pakistan as he tries to help Michael Vaughan's team across another stepping stone to become the world's best cricket team.

Giles was a rookie international spinner the last time England visited Pakistan for what turned out to be a famous 1-0 series victory which laid the early foundations for much of the subsequent success in the Duncan Fletcher-Michael Vaughan era.

The slow left-armer is under no illusions, though, that it will be a hard slog all over again on the sub-Continent for England to add winter victories in Pakistan before Christmas and India early next year to the summer's unexpected Ashes success.

Giles, Vaughan et al will wake up in Islamabad today for day one of an eight-week tour which takes in three Test matches and then five one-day internationals - and as one of only four in the party with similar previous experience the Warwickshire all-rounder acknowledges he has to take on board the responsibility of an elder statesman on and off the field.

He said: ''It will be a very tough series for us. Everyone is on a high still and very excited about what has happened in the Ashes.

''But this is another stepping stone to becoming the best side in the world, so we still have a lot of work to do.

''We have to draw strength from what we have done and learn from our experiences, but it will be a tough and very different challenge.

''If we go into it lightly it could easily bite us quite hard. We must be ready so we can come out on top and enjoy our Christmas.''

It was back in 2000 - when England became the first visiting team to win in Karachi - that Giles began to establish himself in the team.

''I enjoyed my tour out there last time and I am looking forward to this one'', he said, adding he sees Pakistan as the ideal destination for Vaughan and Co to prove their mettle.

''It's a different game altogether playing on the sub-Continent. It was very tough last time and went down to the last night in Karachi.

''It could happen again, so we have to be ready for a real tough battle.

''It is always tough to go out and beat these guys in their own back-yard. But we are a very good cricket side now.

''The best place to go now for this team is Pakistan. There are very few distractions.

''We have to get together, get close - and the cricket will be very tough; it will need a total refocus, and we will have to play some very good cricket to win.

''We are capable of all those things.''

Giles is well aware, though, that for the younger members of the squad it will not necessarily be an easy trip.

''It's a place where you have to learn quickly. The last series there was really slow, turgid cricket and hard work. It could be the same again, after the excitement of the Ashes,'' he said.

The conditions which can be expected in Pakistan - dry, slow pitches - will bring Giles' role to the fore, along with those of pace bowlers who can reverse-swing the ball as well as a possible opening for back-up spinners Shaun Udal and Alex Loudon.

Giles welcomes the prospect of teaming up with either Udal or Loudon and believes England have most angles covered, despite the absence through injury of reverse-swing expert Simon Jones.

''I always enjoy bowling with another spinner. You pick up a bit of rhythm and can create more pressure and get on top of batsmen together. I hope we will play two spinners,'' he said.

''I am looking forward to the challenge and pairing up again with one of these guys.

''We will miss Simon Jones. But we have other guys who bowl reverse-swing very well.''

Whatever the permutations, it is an odds-on bet that Giles will have a pivotal part to play - and it is one he is relishing.

''The responsibility is nice, because it gives you a chance to shine and do well on the tour,'' he said.

''I can learn from 'Shaggy' (Udal) as much as he can learn from me, because he is a very experienced bowler.

''We have three spinners, and I don't think any of them will be written off.

"I have to do my job, because I have two guys up my back now looking to put me under pressure.''

Giles knows he ought to remain leader of the pack in the spin department and - although he knows it will be a close call - he is hoping for a reprise of one of his fondest memories from five years ago.

''We managed in 2000 to stick at it and stay with them until the final hurdle when we won that great game in Karachi,'' he recalls.

''That was a personal highlight in my career.'