Martin Johnson will name one of the most inexperienced England teams in memory to face Australia at Twickenham on Saturday - and that is despite the return of Jonny Wilkinson.

England's likely starting XV to tackle the Wallabies contains 11 players with 13 caps or less, five of whom can count their international appearances on the fingers of one hand.

Even with veteran campaigners Jonny Wilkinson, Lewis Moody and Steve Borthwick in the team, the average number of caps per man is a paltry 18.

Johnson's plans for the autumn Investec Challenge Series have been ravaged by injuries and his team announcement was delayed until tomorrow to give Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley every chance of recovering from a hamstring strain.

But England's plans for the Wallabies became much clearer this evening when it was confirmed that Ben Kay, Nick Kennedy, Ben Foden and Mathew Tait were among 10 players returning to their clubs.

The departures of Foden and Tait provide confirmation that Ugo Monye, Matt Banahan and Mark Cueto will start in the back three, with Shane Geraghty and Dan Hipkiss in midfield.

Uncapped Biarritz centre Ayoola Erinle is a surprise inclusion in the 22-man squad and is set to provide powerful midfield back-up from the bench.

As a result of England's injury crisis, Johnson is seeking stability and continuity anywhere he can find it - and that is by naming the same tight five that faced Argentina in June and, possibly, an all-Leicester back row.

Leicester's Louis Deacon is set to keep his second-row place alongside captain Steve Borthwick, with uncapped Northampton lock Courtenay Lawes on the bench.

Moody and Lions flanker Tom Croft are guaranteed starters in the back row, with Johnson to choose between their Tigers colleague Jordan Crane and in-form Stade Francais loose-forward James Haskell.

Initial indications were that Hartley would be fit to start in the front row alongside loosehead Tim Payne and, probably, David Wilson, the promising Bath tighthead prop.

(reopens) Johnson maintains that despite England's injury crisis, which at the last count had claimed 27 of his 64-man elite squad, they have enough quality to challenge Australia, Argentina and New Zealand this autumn.

One of those missing is full-back Delon Armitage, who this time last year was propelled from outside the 64 and ended the season as England's standout performer.

"Delon last year got his opportunity through injury - now he finds himself injured, and someone else gets the chance," said Johnson.

"From the coaches' point of view we want continuity as much as we can get it but there are always going to be changes.

"Hopefully these injuries are an exceptional period, and by the Six Nations we'll be in the 90% region of who we can pick from.

"We're not talking about excuses. We're not talking about the guys who aren't here, we're talking about the guys who are here. That's the way it is.

"Coaches are used to injury. Maybe not this many - of course not - but that's where we are. We're getting ready to play.

"If we perform how we can we will give ourselves a chance of winning. Some young players now have a chance and we have brought back some older players. There is a good blend in the squad."

Australia arrive at Twickenham on the back of six defeats in seven Tests following last Saturday's Bledisloe Cup reversal to New Zealand in Tokyo.

But Johnson refused to read too much into the Wallabies' tough season, which saw them finish bottom of the Tri-Nations and prompted head coach Robbie Deans to bring on a new generation.

"We've got no doubt as to the severity of the test we'll face at the weekend," said Johnson.

"They play the top two teams in the world a lot. It's going to be harder to get wins. They have beaten South Africa this year, they're used to playing at a very high level.

"There's no way we're going to read anything into those losses."