At the world championships in Jamaica in 2003 it would have been unthinkable for England to set their sights on the gold medal but head coach Marg Caldow says she has set her sights on the top prize and intends to finish with a flourish at this year's championship in Auckland after four years in charge.

The Australia-born former captain knows exactly what it takes to steer a team to the ultimate prize having achieved that with her native country and having seen England gradually narrow the gap on the two most powerful nations, the Silver Ferns and Australia, she believes the English squad are withing touching distance of the trophy.

Following the long flight to New Zealand England are acclimatising doing only light training and getting their body clocks used to a 13-hour time difference. They play a practice match against Samoa on Friday before the tournament starts, taking on Barbados on Sunday in their opening game. Other group matches include contests against Malaysia and South Africa and then it is in to the quarter finals.

Caldow said: "We're solid, quietly confident and up for the challenge. On our day we can beat anyone as we've shown this year - it's not just talk. Our opponents are taking a lot of interest in us and now we need to do it when it counts, under pressure and at the world championships.

"It's taken three or four years to achieve the mental toughness required and big sporting events are usually won or lost between the ears!"

Defender Amanda Newton, 30, who has 82 caps captains the side after making a superb recovery from major knee surgery and Caldow says the back line with Newton, Sonia Mkoloma and Ama Agbeze is world-class. She added: "Through the mid-court Jade Clarke and Karen Atkinson have also demonstrated outstanding form and in Pam Cookey and Louisa Brownfield we have two excellent shooters."

Teenager Jo Harten, 18, faces a baptism of fire and in a late change to the line-up, Sara Bayman has been called in to replace Asha Tett.

The reigning world champions and hosts start as strong favourites alongside their traditional rivals, Australia, who England, ranked fourth in the world, are likely to meet in the semi-finals. Having beaten New Zealand for the first time in 36 years earlier this year and whitewashed both Jamaica (ranked third) and South Africa (ranked fifth), Caldow has plenty of highlights to remember. "I think those results have stood us in good stead and I think I'm leaving England in good shape."

World Championships Auckland 2007:

Pool A: New Zealand, Wales, Malawi, Botswana

Pool B: Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Samoa, Scotland

Pool C: Jamaica, Fiji, Singapore, Cook Islands

Pool D: England, South Africa, Barbados, Malaysia

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