SALE star Mark Cueto believes continuity is a key issue for England as they prepare to kick off their World Cup warm-up programme.

England's World Cup hopefuls have been in training camps for the best part of five weeks - it included stints with the Royal Marines and some punishing warm weather work on the Algarve - but Wales' Twickenham visit next Saturday brings their Webb Ellis Trophy defence into sharp focus.

The reigning world champions have just two games - on home soil against Wales and France - before head coach Brian Ashton announces his 30-man squad for the tournament.

Several places, it would appear, in that elite World Cup group have yet to be pinned down, but Cueto claims selection chopping and changing during the next three weeks - England also face France in Marseille - would not be beneficial.

He said: "The general feeling in the camp is due to the situation with injuries over the past few years, and the changes in the team, we've got to use these three games to play our best team rather than keep switching people and looking for new combinations.

"We've got to use these three games to put or best 15 players out there and give them time to play together.

"I am almost certain that over the past two years, I don't think the same 15 have played in two consecutive (England) games.

"So from that point of view, if we can keep the players fit, then we definitely need to keep the best 15 or 22 on the field for as long as possible to get the combinations, systems and that bond together.

"One of our biggest problems was the lack of time we've had together over the normal season, but we've spent a lot of time together over the last four or five weeks, and that will benefit us without a doubt."

Sharks star Cueto has not pulled on an England shirt since the RBS 6 Nations Championship loss to Wales in Cardiff more than four months ago.

Appearance

And although normally a wing - he has scored 13 tries in 19 Tests for his country - Cueto could find himself retained at full-back when Ashton announces the starting line-up to face Wales tomorrow.

Gifted 19-year-old Wasps prospect Danny Cipriani, who can play full-back or fly-half, is also likely to feature in the match-day 22, as could uncapped Leicester centre Dan Hipkiss.

And 2003 World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio looks set to make his first England appearance since last year's Six Nations.

Wasps number eight Dallaglio, who will be 35 on Friday week, has not started a Twickenham Test match for more than three years.

Bristol back-row forward Dan Ward-Smith, meanwhile, is also challenging to make an appearance this weekend.

A serious knee injury has sidelined him since January, but his recent rate of recovery has thrilled Ashton, who rated Ward-Smith's prospects as only 50-50 just a few weeks ago.

Gloucester centre Mike Tindall though, is unlikely to have recovered in time to tackle Wales as his World Cup hopes remain finely balanced.

Tindall has been battling to recover from a broken leg suffered in April, and the August 11 France clash is likely to be his World Cup D-day.

Despite England slumping to seventh in the International Rugby Board world rankings and losing 12 of their last 16 Tests, Cueto is upbeat about their World Cup prospects.

"I think we've got a good chance," he told the Gillette Rugby Podcast.

"I think we are settled now. Brian (Ashton) has come in and made the changes he wanted. He's got a great coaching and backroom staff involved.

"The squad is a lot more settled than it has been. We've got players fit who haven't been fit for months.

"Everyone is training, we have had a lot of time together and done some great work, so come September we are going to be in great shape.

"We are still not quite down to the 30-man squad that will go to the World Cup, so unfortunately there will be some more players who will be cut.

"But despite that, there is a great atmosphere within the camp." 

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