By Andrew Baldock, PA Sport Rugby Union Correspondent

England skipper Phil Greening has predicted a tournament of Test match intensity when world rugby's top sevens exponents go for Commonwealth gold in Manchester.

Around 100,000 spectators are expected to watch the three-day event at City of Manchester Stadium - and they can confidently expect a thrill-a-minute.

The entry list reads like a who's who of sevens rugby - mighty gold medal favourites New Zealand, Fiji and their legendary leader Waisale Serevi, plus established world powers such as England, South Africa and Australia.

It promises to provide a dream finale to the Games, especially if England can continue their recent resurgence and book a place in Sunday's final, which is already a 38,000 sell-out.

Wasps hooker Greening is the man entrusted with spearheading England's glory bid - and he's in no mood to let the moment pass him by.

Barely 12 months ago, the 26-year-old was left mentally and physically shattered by a demoralising knee injury that ended his Lions tour of Australia before it had hardly started.

Hurt in training during preparations for the opening game against Western Australia, Greening never even pulled on the famous red jersey, so cruel was his luck.

And those dark days provide a stark contrast with Greening's state of health and mind in Manchester as he prepares for tomorrow evening's kick-off against the Cook Islands.

"This is one of the biggest rugby moments of my career - I am just so excited about the whole thing," he said.

"I've had a horrible 12 months, and hopefully this is now the start of a new leg of my life. To be involved in something like the Commonwealth Games is unbelievable.

"It is such a contrast from last year and Australia, when I was down in the gutter. Now I feel as though I am on top of the world, rubbing shoulders with some of the greatest athletes in the world."

Personal sense of achievement aside though, Greening knows that England will need to produce sustained excellence if they want a medal - gold, silver or bronze.

England, having unearthed sevens players of world-class ability in Ben Gollings, Simon Amor and Paul Sampson, famously won this year's prestigious Hong Kong tournament, reached several other semi-finals on the International Rugby Board circuit and almost toppled reigning Commonwealth champions New Zealand at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium just three months ago.

It all represents a transformation which seemed impossible this time last year, but under the masterly direction of former rugby league star Joe Lydon, England have improved beyond recognition.

And Greening is determined to see his players do themselves justice by making a real impact during the next three days.

"It is going to be a massive step up from the IRB series," he claimed.

"In terms of intensity, I think the Games sevens will be quite close to Test rugby. The teams assembled here are the best in the world, and it is going to be like a World Cup.

"There is an amazing atmosphere here - a massive buzz about the place - and we are all really looking forward to it.

"It's been great to rub shoulders with the other athletes. People like Darren Campbell and Dwain Chambers have been wishing us well for the weekend, which is a nice touch, and to be honest, we can't wait to get started."

England should top their qualifying group ahead of Samoa, the Cook Islanders and rank outsiders Kenya, which would set up a Saturday night quarter-final, probably against Australia or Fiji.

Elsewhere, New Zealand and South Africa also seem last-eight certainties, with the remaining places likely to be contested by Scotland, Canada, Wales, Tonga and Samoa.

And if England end up meeting the Kiwis in Sunday's final, then they won't be daunted by the ominous presence of Eric Rush and his revered men in black.

"I think that we shocked New Zealand in the Cardiff IRB final," Greening added.

"We felt that we could have won that game, and it has given us massive belief and confidence coming into the Games. Hopefully, if we perform and play to our ability, then we can meet them in the final and might be able to get one back.

"But we've got to go one game at a time. The Cook Islands will be tricky, then Kenya, followed by a huge match against Samoa. At the moment, we are not looking any further ahead than the group stage."

The action begins at 5pm tomorrow, with all competing countries playing their opening two group games and concluding some five hours later when Wales and Tonga clash in a potentially pivotal pool B encounter.

The groups are concluded on Saturday, followed by the quarter-finals, with semi-finals and final on Sunday.

Pool A: New Zealand, Scotland, Canada, Niue Island.

Pool B: South Africa, Wales, Tonga, Sri Lanka.

Pool C: England, Samoa, Cook Islands, Kenya.

Pool D: Fiji, Australia, Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago.