WRITE England off at you peril, Wales coach Mike Ruddock warns the public who have high expectations of a first victory over the 'enemy' in Cardiff for 12 years on February 5.

Those hopes have risen on the back of improved Welsh performances under new coach Ruddock, when they went within five points of beating Southern Hemisphere giants South Africa and New Zealand in November, plus a host of England injury problems and retirements.

But Ruddock insisted: "England are still the form side and their pack is still a huge challenge. I've watched them on the tapes very closely and we still have our hands full.

"They beat South Africa well which is more than we did and we won't underestimate the England pack which is immensely strong.

"There are a couple of players to come in in midfield and they've got a lot of good players.

"We want to beat England, but also we want the team to go out and play rugby. The body language is that this team is going for it and the public are supporting it and being excited by it.

"I'd rather England be injury free, but we're only talking about a couple of players which could create problems for them in midfield.

"If you look at their front row and second row and some great options in the back row, plus Matt Dawson coming back in and Mark Cueto, it's just a matter of their midfield.

"Their pack is still the big challenge, but if we can win enough ball we can probably move them around and cause problems.

"But it's not just about England, which is one game. We've got to keep pushing this team towards the World Cup."

Ruddock gave a pretty strong hint that the team to face England would be little different from the one which pushed the All Blacks so hard.

"We've got a lot of stability in the squad and a core to our team. We're only talking about two or three positions," he said.

"Stephen Jones has established himself as the number one fly half, there's Gavin Henson, Alfie (captain Gareth Thomas) and Shane Williams.

"Unless things change radically there is every chance the team will be based on the New Zealand game."

Ruddock said he did not see the need for full central contracts, but preferred to contract the odd key player.

"We don't need to panic, but we need to let a player know he has a key part to play in the Welsh team and its preparations," he said.

"We don't want another five players to go to France next year. We don't want young players growing up to aspire to play in France."

Meanwhile, Ruddock is confident flanker Colin Charvis will be fit to face England.

Charvis limped off during Newcastle's Heineken Cup win over Newport Gwent Dragons with an ankle injury.

An initial scan revealed there was no fracture although the influential Charvis is unlikely to play again before the clash.

"It is a soft tissue foot injury and he will have more treatment over the next few days," said Ruddock.

Wales squad: Backs: G Thomas, K Morgan, R Williams, H Luscombe, T Shanklin, S Parker, G Henson, S Williams, C Sweeney, Stephen Jones, D Peel, G Cooper, M Phillips, Forwards: A Jones, G Jenkins, A.N Other, J Yapp, M Davies, R McBryde, Steve Jones, B Cockbain, G Llewellyn, R Sidoli, L Charteris, I Gough, D Jones, J Thomas, C Charvis, M Williams, M Owen, R Jones.