Ian McGeechan believes London Wasps duo Danny Cipriani and Riki Flutey can transfer their midfield partnership onto the international stage to give England a cutting edge.

The pair are favourites to fill the fly-half and inside-centre roles against the Pacific Islanders at Twickenham on Saturday week following Olly Barkley's release from the squad.

New Zealand-born Flutey, 28, only qualified for England through residency last month, while Cipriani has played just four games since recovering from a career-threatening ankle dislocation.

But Wasps director of rugby McGeechan expects them to rise to the challenge. He said: "Riki is a good decision maker at 12 and talks to players either side of him as well. Under pressure that is important.

"It will be a big challenge for him, his first cap if he gets it, but he is ready. Danny and Riki work well together and sometimes they instinctively react together. At international level that's a big plus."

Cipriani's remarkable recovery from injury caught everyone - including England team manager Martin Johnson - by surprise.

He was only brought into the squad after Jonny Wilkinson dislocated his kneecap two weeks ago and McGeechan has warned not too expect too much from the 20-year-old.

He said: "Danny has not had the number of games to really be up to match speed."