By Matt Majendie

PAT SANDERSON FACTFILE Born: 6 Sept 1977 Club: Worcester Position: Back-row forward Test caps: Six Test points: Five (one try) Did you know? Pat is the chairman of the Professional Rugby Players' Association

Pat Sanderson is determined to make his mark on Australia on Saturday, seven years after coming close to first tackling the Wallabies.

The Worcester flanker was set to play in the 76-0 thrashing in Brisbane in 1998 before tonsilitis ruled him out.

The 28-year-old, who on Sunday was named in England's full starting XV for the first time in four years, said: "I remember sitting in bed ill last time.

"Years on I'm overjoyed to get a start and I'm ready to hit back for England."

Sanderson has just six England caps under his belt - three starts from the doomed southern-hemisphere in 1998 and three from the England's 2001 northern-hemisphere tour - all as a replacement.

Saturday's match, however, will be his first international on home soil.

"It's great to get a start at home finally," said the Worcester captain, who insisted "he never wrote off his England career" despite being repeatedly overlooked by Sir Clive Woodward and more recently Andy Robinson.

"Even when I was left out of the elite squad in August, I didn't see it as the end of the world," he said.

"It's nice to be involved but it was just a question of playing well for the club."

They've lost six on the bounce will make them even more dangerous Sanderson on Australia

There's no doubt he's done that. Last season he was only one of four players to start every Premiership game, he was a nominee for Zurich Player of the Year and has helped take his club to an impressive fifth in the league this season.

Despite his ascent into the England set-up as the starting blind-side flanker, he insists the job is "only half done".

"Being picked is half the job," he said, "the other half is holding onto the position."

Sanderson is bound to face stiff competition from Joe Worsley when the Wasps flanker returns from injury.

"It's hard to get into the England side even without Joe fit," he said, "as there are lots of top back-row forwards in the Premiership.

"But I think I'm playing better rugby than I've ever done and I've trained hard to get here, so I'm going to enjoy it."

Sanderson can expect a home baptism of fire against Aussie flankers George Smith and Phil Waugh, two of the most experienced and physically challenging in global rugby.

"They're world-class flankers, which became even clearer watching them against France on Sunday night," he added. "It's going to be a very physical challenge.