Fast bowler James Anderson admits England will need luck on their side to preserve their status as the world's second-best Test side today.

Michael Vaughan's team headed into the final Test against India needing victory to extend a six-year unbeaten record on home soil.

But they head into the fifth dayk, having chipped off 56 runs from an improbable 500-run target, needing to bat for a minimum of 90 overs to avoid a 2-0 defeat.

Such a result would leave England, currently with a comfortable margin over the rest, level on 109 points in the rankings and narrowly above a pack of countries.

''Obviously we don't want to lose a Test match and that's our main priority,'' said Anderson.

''Our first goal is to save the game and then if we can keep wickets in hand, look where we are later in the day.

''It is going to be hard and we might need a little bit of luck along the way.

''If our guys bat well there is no reason we can't bat the whole day. We have had the rough side of the game so far and we will look to finish strongly tomorrow. Obviously it was a tricky 20 overs to face and we are very happy getting through it.''

Despite securing a whopping 319-run lead India opted not to enforce the follow-on and then proceeded to grind out an advantage in helpful conditions.

It raised eyebrows in some quarters but Anderson said: ''If they are looking to win the series and bat us out of the game they've made the right decision.''