Freddie ready to rumble one last time

It has been suggested the 31-year-old may need more surgery on the chronic injury to his right knee but, barring an unmanageable recurrence of swelling in the joint after bowling in the nets, he is determined to go through the pain - and consider the consequences later.

"If we won this one it would be a far greater achievement than 2005," said Flintoff, recalling England's shock success four years ago which ended a generation of Ashes failure. "That was fantastic. But the side had performed well over a period of time, beaten everyone in the world - and we came in against Australia expecting to win."

He added: "I'm not saying we're not doing that this time, but the side's gone through a lot over the past 12 months and has changed a hell of a lot."

A strange series has resulted, in which each team have taken their turn to dominate - never more so than Australia when they levelled the series with an innings-and-80-run demolition of their hosts in the fourth npower Test at Headingley. "We've got young players who've never played in the Ashes," Flintoff points out.

"From my point of view, with the injuries I've gone through to be here, this will be a far greater achievement (than 2005)."

Flintoff knows he must address his post-Ashes injury prognosis soon - but he will not be doing so until next Tuesday at the earliest.

"I must put that to the back of my mind," he insists.

"Then after the Test match, I'll probably go and see the specialist again and look at a longer-term plan.

"But at this moment in time, it's all about playing for five days and then worrying about it if I need to once it's all over."