Paul Colingwood goes into today's First Test against South Africa thankful for the chance to fight for his place after fearing the worst. Collingwood's four-match suspension - handed out by the International Cricket Council following England's slow over-rate during last month's one-day meeting with New Zealand at The Oval - could have included the opening game of this summer's second npower series.

Instead, it was decided the punishment should be restricted to limited-overs matches, leaving one-day captain Collingwood free to extend a run of 32 consecutive Test appearances. And free to show why he should not be giving up his place to Andrew Flintoff, or anyone else, in the near future. "That would have been a massive blow," said Collingwood on the eve of a series that promises to be a bloodand-thunder battle featuring South Africa's high-octane pace attack and England's batting line-up.

"Don't get me wrong, missing four one-day internationals when you aren't injured and haven't been dropped kills you but Test cricket is the ultimate for me and I don't want to give my spot up. It's as simple as that."

After going 12 Tests without a century and scoring only 32 runs during the series against New Zealand, Collingwood's head is close to the chopping block - and would be even if Flintoff was not back on the scene and looking likely to join the fray next week.

But, this way, the 32-year-old Durham player has another chance to show what he can do. No pressure, then.

"I always feel under pressure," said Collingwood without hesitation. "For one thing, when you play international sport you're under pressure. And from day one of playing Test cricket in 2003,

I've always been somebody people have questioned as to whether I'm good enough. I've always been under pressure to prove myself. Nothing is different."

While those words may sound a touch bitter, the truth is quite different. Collingwood, in Tour de France terms, is a domestique, someone happy to do the hard, usually less than pretty work in the pack so that others can grab the glory. But even domestiques have their days alone in the limelight - and Collingwood has had his in Test cricket, none finer than when he scored an Ashes double century at Adelaide in 2006.

Above all, the man from Shotley Bridge is a scrapper. "I don't know whether it's down to the way I was brought up but if I get knocked down I want to fight back even harder," he said.

The knocks have been coming fast and furious just lately. His England one-day team blew a lead against New Zealand to lose the NatWest Series, Collingwood was rightly pilloried for failing to recall Kiwi batsman Grant Elliott after that sorry run-out incident at The Oval, he was hit with a ban and many people have suggested he is the obvious candidate to make way for Flintoff.

But it is Collingwood's form with the bat that should decide whether he goes or stays in the Test team. And, far from worrying about the prospect of facing South African speedsters Makhaya Ntini, Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn, he talks like a man who is relishing the prospect.

"What you've got to have is a clear mind about your game plan, know your shots and what works best for you," said England's No 6.

"This is going to be a different challenge to the one we faced against New Zealand. The ball is going to come on and you won't need to go after it so much. I would have thought they'll have more attacking fields as well, so that means more gaps and hopefully the runs will come a bit more freely.

"You've got to combat the pace itself but once you get in and get set, that will be good enough."

With Ian Bell also short of a score against New Zealand and England's pace bowlers looking over their shoulders as well in case the selectors decide to recall Flintoff further down the order, the 'Fred' factor could create tension in the home camp at Lord's.

And South Africa, it seems, are having a similar impact on England after a non-stop diet of Kiwi this year.

"Playing New Zealand for five months was far too long," said Collingwood. "It can wear you down, coming up against the same opponents all the time.

"What we've noticed in the past week is that everyone has a real buzz. We fought hard to get the right results against New Zealand but this build-up has had an extra adrenaline rush about it."