Simon Shaw ready to revive his Lions heroics for stumbling England

Shaw has replaced Louis Deacon in the role of the grappling, mauling and ball-carrying No4 and will bring vital experience to the pack.

Having set such high standards when he finally made it into the Lions Test side on his third tour in South Africa, Shaw says English fans will expect a repeat of the outstanding debut he delivered in the Second Test in Pretoria when he was named man of the match.

The 36-year-old, though, is not concerned. He said: "If that Lions performance is the criteria by which I've been brought in, then clearly I have to live up to that. I don't have an issue with the expectation. If everyone goes by the example set by Lewis Moody in the last two England games, then we won't go far wrong on Saturday.

"I am grateful for all the praise that followed the Lions games but I judge myself on each performance and as long as I hit my own standards, then I am content.

"If people say things will be okay just because I am back then I take that as a big compliment and hope I can provide the solutions that are needed."

Shaw helped the Lions win the Third Test in Johannesburg 28-9 but it was in that match that he picked up the injury which he feared would rule him out of all three of England's autumn Tests. In fact, he almost broke a metatarsal - the injury which has blighted England's footballers since David Beckham suffered it before the 2002 World Cup.

Shaw said: "My metatarsal injury was a stress reaction which is one step away from the fracture David Beckham suffered and having dealt with the frustration of not being able to play, I have lots of sympathy for what he must have gone through. When my foot wasn't improving I thought making the autumn Tests was going to be a longshot but I'm delighted to have made it."

Although Shaw has only just come back to action he insists there is enough in the tank to make a big impression on the All Blacks and believes the late start to the season helped prolong his 13-year Test career.

He explained: "I still enjoy the game and so there is no reason to walk away from it and the injury gave me time to rest. But then it dragged out, becoming incredibly frustrating, and after two or three weeks of watching the guys playing, you just want to get out there.

"It helped clear any doubts in my mind about getting bashed about in every match. If you see it happening on the pitch and still want to be involved then it must mean you are still hungry for it."

In Shaw's absence injury-hit England have toiled this month, losing 18-9 to Australia before edging past Argentina 16-9 last week. The display against the Pumas was so poor that Martin Johnson's men were booed off the Twickenham pitch at half-time.

Shaw knows what is needed against the All Blacks and senses his team can deliver. He said: "We have to be very aggressive and take it to them because there is no use just holding back, trying to contain them because you will end up on the losing side.

"Last week against Argentina wasn't great by any standards but there is an enormous amount of energy in this squad and this is a perfect opportunity to show what we can do.

"I have been involved in a lot of teams that have taken a knock and come straight back and this is a game where we can prove a lot of people wrong.

"A lot of guys have, perhaps, been in their shells and there is no reason to shy away from this one because it's the last game of the autumn series of matches and we have to come out and challenge New Zealand.

"I don't think I have ever seen a weak All Blacks side and we will have to reach for all our reserves if we want to win."