The Fred factor is boost for England, says Colly

The Durham man's poor run of form with the bat means he is the player most under pressure from Flintoff 's return to fitness.

Collingwood knows he needs to perform well at Lord's against South Africa if he is to retain his place. England are unchanged today for a record sixth consecutive match yet that could change for the Second Test at Headingley next week.

"We see Fred as motivation," insisted Collingwood. "We all know he is going to come back into the side at some point. But you don't want to be the one to make way, so hopefully you will put in the big performance to help England win a Test and make it as hard as possible for the selectors.

"Everyone is genuinely pleased that Fred's back on the scene. When you've got a quality player like that, and a bloke like that, he just gives you an instant buzz."

Collingwood will have to be at his best against a South African pace attack that boasts Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini, who all bowl in excess of 90mph. But South African skipper Graeme Smith reckons the elder statesman of his pace attack, Ntini, could be the dangerman.

Ntini, who has registered 91mph on the speed gun took 10 wickets at Lord's on the South African's last tour five years ago.

And Smith reckons all the talk about Steyn and Morkel has fired up the first black paceman to represent South Africa.

Smith said: "That's a huge motivation for him." The South Africans haven't won a Test series here since the fall of Apartheid in 1993, a statistic Smith, struggling with a hamstring injury, is eager to amend.

He added: "There are some special memories for me personally at Lord's. In 2003, I came here in fantastic form but recently it's been a battle with injuries so it's going to be a challenge."

Smith has only had two hours cricket since he arrived - he was injured playing in the IPL with Shane Warne's triumphant Rajastan Royals - but he insists it won't affect his form, or his abrasive leadership style.

He said: "I've settled into it. I'm hopefully calmer and more experienced tactically. At 22 you are trying to prove to the world and everybody you can handle the job. Being single-minded was one reason why I could handle the job at 22, 23."