John Dyson is looking for his first Test win as Sri Lanka coach

Dyson played down England's achievement in salvaging a draw from the first Test at Galle, a game in which Muttiah Muralitahan took 11 wickets.

"Anyone who said it was a spinning nightmare was watching a different game," the Australian said.

"We gave England a whacking in Dambulla in the one-dayers; in the Test match they were never in it.

He added: "We were the only team that looked like winning. We were the dominant team in the match and the morale is very good.

"We were in a little bit of trouble twice and we fought our way out of it to stay on top."

Muralitharan will have extra incentive to do well in Kandy as it is home town and he will be looking to help Sri Lanka avenge their defeat by England in 2001.

We have got good memories of this ground Michael Vaughan Hussain set for Test recall

But they have a moderate record at the Asgiriya Stadium, having won only four out of 15 previous Tests staged there, with seven ending in defeat.

"What John (Dyson) said shows he has a hell of a lot of confidence in his team.

"They are very experienced, but we will fight and play in a similar kind of manner, get some runs on the board and get them under pressure," said England skipper Michael Vaughan.

"You have got to be positive because if you have three or four men around the bat all day, you are bound to give a chance."

He added: "Their other spinners can be dangerous, but it doesn't take a genius to see that Murali is their key threat."