Fabio Capello is adamant England will be "fit to fight" in Port Elizabeth later today.
Unless the Three Lions can find their teeth against Slovenia, they will tumble out of the World Cup at the ground stage.
It would make a mockery of Capello's pre-tournament assertion that England were capable of reaching the final at least, and also place the Italian's £6million-a-year job under severe threat.
Capello has received support from high ranking officials within the Football Association.
But, facing one of the biggest challenges in his illustrious managerial career, Capello is confident England will rise up for the battle.
"We did really well in qualification but now we are not in a good moment," he admitted.
"At this moment, we are down from the level that I know, that they know, that we all know. But we will be fit to fight. Definitely."
Capello seems set to hand Jermain Defoe his first start of the tournament alongside Wayne Rooney, with James Milner also tipped to be selected on the right-hand side of midfield to insulate England from attacks down the flanks.
John Terry will also keep his place despite his controversial comments on Sunday which Capello branded "a big mistake".
For all the uproar they caused, the Italian insists England are now on an even keel.
And while their two performances in South Africa have left plenty to be desired, Capello is keeping the faith.
"I am not crazy," he said. "When I said my target is the final of the World Cup it was because we showed this is a really good squad.
"I think if... no, not if, when we win then all the teams have to fight against us."
It is widely anticipated Capello will either resign, or be pushed out of the door if England fail.
Just three weeks after signing a revised contract, it would be a staggering fall from grace.
Although he brutally crushed Terry's one-man rebellion, Capello has not really addressed concerns about the austere nature of the England camp in Rustenburg, whilst Joe Cole is set to continue kicking his heels on the bench despite his former Chelsea team-mate's call for his inclusion.
But criticisms about England's training camp and Capello's management methods are set to receive short shrift, with FA figures wanting to see the players assume some responsibility for themselves.
"The players have to take responsibility," said a senior FA source.
"We have given them everything they've asked for. At some point it's down to them.
"Capello has done nothing different to what he did in qualifying. Nobody was moaning then."
Group C permutations
Despite two unconvincing performances, England still know a win over Slovenia will take them through. Anything less, however, could be catastrophic.
They are level on points with the United States but trail on goals scored by two and a low-scoring draw would not be good enough.
A draw would be enough for Slovenia while the US would go through with a victory.
Algeria are not yet out of contention but need to win in Pretoria and hope for a favourable result in Port Elizabeth.
