Giles was delighted with his first Test eight-wicket haul

Rain ended day four early in Galle, with the tourists 4-0, chasing a tough 323 for victory.

More realistically they will have to bat through the final day against Sri Lanka's spinners on a wearing pitch to save the match.

"It will be a big battle but our guys really believe they can get out and do a job," said Fletcher.

"We've got to build partnerships and not worry about the pace we score runs."

England will rely on opening pair Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan to build firm foundations when play starts.

A lot of people said it was the end of my career but I'm not ready to lay down yet Ashley Giles

Fletcher was also buoyed by a 75-run first innings partnership between experienced campaigners Mark Butcher and Graham Thorpe.

But England will have to find a way of nullifying the threat of top Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who took 7-46 in England's first innings.

Spinner Ashley Giles said: "It's difficult because we know what Muralitharan can do.

"But this side plays spin as well as any side I've seen."

Giles admitted he was "very happy and very excited" after gaining the best match figures of his career after struggling for form in the last year.

The left-armer's 8-132 topped the 7-132 he recorded against Pakistan in Karachi three years ago, and took him past the landmark of 50 Test wickets overseas.

I knew as long as I covered Ashley we would be safe Mahela Jayawardene

In eight Tests prior to this in 2003, Giles had taken just 10 wickets, and he has spent the last two months remodelling his action.

"The wicket suits me but I've done a lot of hard work and it's paying off now," he told BBC Sport.

"I've made changes to my action and my run-up and they're finally settling down so I'm able to get back into my own rhythm and bowl as I want to.

"A lot of people said it was the end of my career but I'm not ready to lay down yet."

England tough target was down mainly to the work of Mahela Jayawardene, who also rediscovered lost form in a five-hour innings worth 87.

Sri Lanka's last five wickets added 141 runs, with Jayawardene the senior batsman.

"Ashley bowled really well. He knew when to attack and we couldn't get runs off him, we just had to occupy the crease," he said.

"He didn't have that many partners to bowl with him and that gave us the edge as even the tail-enders managed to survive the other guys.

"He was making it difficult because the ball was turning away from me and I was lucky in the sense that I didn't get a nick when others did."