England manager Martin Johnson is confident Jonny Wilkinson will be fit to make his first return to Australia since the 2003 Rugby World Cup triumph.
Wilkinson has been advised by Toulon club medics to avoid all contact training until three days before England's first Test against the Wallabies after suffering rib damage.
Johnson confirmed he has no plans to use Wilkinson in a David Beckham-style cheerleading role if the fly-half is not fit enough to compete for a Test place.
But England, who will fully assess Wilkinson themselves tomorrow, have no reason to doubt he will make Monday's flight to Perth.
"To have Jonny in your squad is always a positive but if he is not fit he won't go and he won't play – but we are confident he is fit," said Johnson.
"The physios are always working hard getting guys back on the field but we are confident he will be good to go. It is a muscle strain in his ribs.
"Some guys recover quicker from injuries, some are slower. We are confident he will be fit to travel and fit to train with us and play out there."
Wilkinson was never slated to be involved at Twickenham tomorrow, where England warm up for their five-match tour with a traditional Twickenham fixture against the Barbarians.
And with Toby Flood in Guinness Premiership final action today, Charlie Hodgson also has the chance to stake a claim for a return to the Test arena.
Hodgson last featured for England on the ill-fated summer tour to New Zealand, when he was dropped after the first Test and criticised by his coaches as a defensive liability.
But Johnson has been impressed by the way the 29-year-old playmaker has worked on his defence, which was epitomised by a brilliant try-saving tackle on Ugo Monye earlier this season.
Johnson has told Hodgson that the door is open for a full Test return against the Wallabies on June 12 if he takes his chance tomorrow.
"He could be involved in the Tests very easily," said Johnson.
"You generally have two fly-halves in a 22. Toby and Jonny have done that for us all through the Six Nations.
"Jonny got a knock last week and hopefully he will be fit to compete for a spot over there but form is a powerful thing.
The England side tomorrow features three uncapped players in the forms of Shontayne Hape, the Bath centre, Gloucester lock Dave Attwood and Newcastle prop Jon Golding.
Paul Doran-Jones also gets another chance to don the red rose after winning his debut cap in the autumn as England struggled with a front-row injury crisis.
The Barbarians boast an experienced side captained by Xavier Rush and featuring five members of Toulon's Heineken Cup-winning squad.
Ben Kay, Johnson's former Leicester and England second-row partner, lines up for the Barbarians in what could be his final game if rumours of impending retirement are true.
