THE prospect of coming face-to-face with giant wing Lesley Vainikolo looms for Wales wideman Mark Jones but first he is preparing for combat with two world-class fliers in their own right.

The Scarlets man, with Martyn Williams the only non-Osprey in the starting 15, will win his 36th cap at Twickenham on Saturday and is full of praise for his opposite numbers.

England chief Brian Ashton has plumped for David Strettle and Paul Sackey as 11 and 14, and that leaves the prospect of 18-stone Gloucester man Vainikolo bringing a new meaning to the role of impact player' in the latter stages.

"I've only seen Vainikolo on television and he has been impressive since coming over from rugby league," said Jones, who made his debut against the English in Cardiff in seven years ago.

"He is fantastic with ball in hand and has flattened people left, right and centre so he has got to be watched when he comes on.

"But before that they have got Sackey and Strettle who are top class players. I really respect them - they are tough guys with bags of pace and top notch defences. They are top class players who would slot into most sides in the world."

Wales haven't won back-to-back Six Nations games since the Ireland victory that sealed the Grand Slam in 2005 and Jones is aware that their consistency needs to improve.

And the 28-year-old declared that the Wales camp has been far too hectic to allow the years of woe since 1988 to be an issue.

He said: "The coaches haven't mentioned the 20 years record. It's not been an issue. There has been a lot of information thrown at us over the past week or so and I've been too busy trying to soak all that up.

"We are all mindful that we can play well for a couple of games then come off the pace. It's all about being right in games until the end - if you are pipped at the post then that's sport.

"I think we have got to go there and get the basics right. I know that's been said before but that is the key to any success never mind going to Twickenham.

"They lose very few games there and have a fantastic group of players. It's all to do but what a place to go and try and turn them over, you can't be beaten before you get there and we have to use the hostile atmosphere as motivation."