Paul Collingwood is confident England's emerging one-day side have the capabilities to rise to one of the biggest challenges of their careers in their limited overs series against Sri Lanka.

No England side have ever won a series on this island and of the eight completed one-day internationals between the two sides on Sri Lankan soil, England have won only one, way back in 1982.

But despite having only one warm-up match today against a strong Sri Lankan Board XI and being without key all-rounder Andrew Flintoff for the five-match series, Collingwood remains optimistic.

''We obviously realise they're a very good side and when you come to Sri Lanka it's very hot and conditions do favour the home side,'' he conceded.

''But that to us is the exciting thing. When you're playing professional cricket you want a challenge and this is certainly one of the biggest challenges you'll come up against.

''If we have a good series here it will be very satisfying. The lads in that dressing room have prepared very well over the last few days and in many ways it's helped us get over here early to get ourselves acclimatised.

''We believe we have the skills to adapt to these conditions, we're looking forward to it and we want to do well out here.''

Collingwood's confidence seems misplaced against a Sri Lanka side who reached the World Cup final in May and have beaten England home and abroad in seven of their last eight one-day internationals.

That sequence includes the 5-0 hammering they gave England in the summer of 2006, but Collingwood believes the current squad have the mental strength to compete on more level terms.

''At the time it was very disappointing to lose 5-0, but we're a different side now with a different set-up and we have an opportunity now to reverse that,'' said Collingwood.

''One thing you need out here as a set of players is belief and there is belief in our side that we can win."

Collingwood is expected to feature today, having recovered sufficiently from the stomach virus which has swept through the squad in recent days.

Stuart Broad, Luke Wright and Alastair Cook are all still affected, while Kevin Pietersen has joined the list.

If they recover they will face a Board XI side including eight players who have been capped by Sri Lanka at international level, including captain Avishka Gunawardene.