By Tony Leighton

England have lost only once in their last 15 competitive matches

England look set to maintain their 100% Women's Euro 2009 qualifying record when they take on Northern Ireland.

Hope Powell's team beat the same opponent 4-0 in Group One last May and have won both of their games since to lead the group by two points.

The hosts have lost three games since and are bottom of Group One with a goal difference of minus 15.

But Powell said: "On Thursday I'll be demanding the same application we show against the best teams in the world."

Powell sent scouts to watch Northern Ireland's most recent match, a 4-0 defeat in Spain last month, as she planned for Thursday's game at Glenavon FC's Mourneview Park.

Playing in this group has been a massive learning curve for our girls NI manager Alfie Wylie

Three weeks ago England beat one of those "best teams in the world", with a well-earned 2-1 friendly victory over last September's World Cup semi-finalists Norway.

"We'll be taking the positives from the performance and result against Norway into our qualifiers," added Powell, "but we can't treat Thursday as a foregone conclusion.

"Being totally focused in every game we play is vitally important, especially with the rising expectation levels on us after our results over the last couple of years."

England have lost only once - a 3-0 defeat by America in the World Cup quarter-final - in their last 15 competitive matches.

And Northern Ireland manager Alfie Wylie admitted: "We're not near the level of England.

"Playing in this group has been a massive learning curve for our girls and I'm delighted with the progress they've made.

"The aim on Thursday will be to put in a good performance, go on stretching our limits and come off the pitch having learned things that will help us go on improving."