Steve Borthwick and Mike Tindall are the leading candidates to be named England captain when Martin Johnson's squad for this summer's tour to New Zealand is announced today.
England's World Cup and Six Nations captain Phil Vickery is struggling with a knee injury and, although his rehabilitation is ahead of schedule, the Wasps prop faces stiff competition for his place from the in-form Matt Stevens.
Borthwick has emerged as a late favourite to be named skipper by Johnson, his former England team-mate and another who led his country from the second row.
Borthwick stood in for Vickery at short notice in England's laboured victory over Italy during this season's Six Nations.
Whether it is Borthwick or Tindall who gets the official honour, England will need all their combined experience to lead a squad that is set to include a handful of uncapped players on the toughest tour there is.
Danny Care, shortlisted for the Guinness Premiership young player of the year award, tops that list of rising talent and the Harlequins scrum-half is set to make his Test debut in New Zealand.
Before he was moved sideways, former head coach Brian Ashton had been planning to leave Harry Ellis at home to continue his rehab from the knee injury which ruled him out of the World Cup.
If Johnson takes the same approach then Care, who is making a strong case to go straight into the team, will probably be joined by Richard Wigglesworth and either Peter Richards or Paul Hodgson.
One other option would be for England to travel with two specialist scrum-halves plus Sale's Ben Foden as a full-back who can also provide cover at nine.
England need to decide whether to take a third fly-half - possibly Ryan Lamb - as back-up to Danny Cipriani and Charlie Hodgson or rely on Olly Barkley and Shane Geraghty to provide cover from inside centre.
Up front, Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley is primed for his first senior England call-up while London Irish lineout king Nick Kennedy has been pushing hard for international selection all season.
Bristol prop Jason Hobson, who received a late call-up to the bench for the Italy game in which Borthwick was captain, is in line for inclusion if Vickery does end up missing out.
Experienced heads Jonny Wilkinson and Lewis Moody are both out of the trip while there are injury shadows hanging over wingers James Simpson-Daniel (shoulder) and Paul Sackey (knee).
Tindall hurt his ankle on Saturday and underwent a precautionary MRI scan but is not thought to be seriously injured.
More news from SportingLife.com
