The most anticipated game of the Rugby World Cup group stages will take place this weekend as England face neighbours Wales in a crucial Pool A showdown at Twickenham.

Rugby HQ has been the setting for Grand Slam deciders and even a World Cup final before, but Saturday evening's match is right up there in terms of the biggest game to be hosted at the ground - 105 years after the same two teams contested the first international at the stadium.

England

The eyes of the nation, and indeed the world, rested on Stuart Lancaster's side as they kicked off the eighth edition of the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham last Friday.

It was not the easiest start for the hosts, and they weren't entirely convincing as they overcame Fiji 35-11, helped largely by two tries from the impressive Mike Brown.

However, while their performance is unlikely to have had defending champions and tournament favourites New Zealand quaking in their boots, England did get the job done in a high-pressure situation to turn the spotlight on their fellow Pool A rivals.

It is perhaps the toughest pool in the competition's history, so to have emerged from the opening test with a maximum five points courtesy of Billy Vunipola's late bonus-point try could turn out to be pivotal.

The real challenge begins this weekend, though. England were always expected to beat Fiji and a bonus point was likely in the process, but their upcoming matches against Wales and Australia on consecutive Saturdays are a lot harder to call.

Victory in at least one of those is vital to their chances of reaching the quarter-finals, and there is no doubt that the immense pressure will be eased somewhat should that win come against the Welsh.

There are a number of issues that must be addressed if that is to happen, though. England's scrum and lineout looked like an area of weakness against Fiji and they will be tested even more in that department by Warren Gatland's side.

Wales have weaknesses of their own that England can exploit, however, and Lancaster's side will no doubt gain confidence from their famous 21-16 victory at the Millennium Stadium in the opening match of this year's Six Nations.

George Ford started at fly-half for that game, and indeed every other match at the Six Nations, but the Bath man has lost his place in the side to Owen Farrell for this weekend's game in what has been described as a risk by a number of former players.

Lancaster has certainly made a number of big decisions as he looks to dominate the physical battle in midfield, but only time will tell whether the gamble has paid off.

Recent form: WWLWWW

Wales

An opening fixture against Uruguay was the kindest draw Wales could have got in the 'Pool of Death', and sure enough Gatland's men got their campaign off to a convincing start.

The South Americans did not make things easy for the hosts at the Millennium Stadium, but Wales had the bonus point sewn up inside the first half and went on to run out 54-9 winners and join England on five points at the top of Pool A.

The result and even the bonus point were never in any doubt, but aside from that the match went about as badly as it could have done for Gatland's side.

Having suffered the devastating double injury blow to Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb in their final warm-up game, a string of other fitness concerns emerged from the match in Cardiff.

Samson Lee, Paul James, Aaron Jarvis and Liam Williams all picked up knocks, and the latter of those is the only one to have made the starting XV for this weekend's match. The biggest blow, however, saw hat-trick hero Cory Allen ruled out for the rest of the tournament with a hamstring strain.

Such a long list of absentees is sure to have dampened the optimism amongst Wales supporters, but there is nothing like a match against England to whet the appetite and victory this weekend could be exactly what they need to restore any faith that may have been lost.

Rarely has a meeting between these two famous old rivals had so much hanging on it, and for the Welsh this game could be right up there alongside their semi-final against France four years ago as the biggest match in the nation's history.

World Cup victory against England in their own backyard would certainly be a memorable feat, but it would also set them up nicely for the upcoming matches against Fiji and Australia, the former of which takes place just five days after what is sure to be a bruising encounter at Twickenham.

Top of Gatland's list of priorities will be discipline. His side gave away too many penalties against Uruguay and, with the reliable kicking of Farrell, that could prove to be the difference if they continue those transgressions.

It is not quite a must-win game for the visitors, but defeat would pile the pressure on them going into their final two outings.

Recent form: WWWLWW

Team News

Much has been made of Lancaster's starting XV for Saturday's match as he looks to stand up to the physical test that Jamie Roberts and co are sure to bring to his side.

Ford can consider himself somewhat unfortunate to miss out to Farrell at fly-half, while Jonathan Joseph's chest injury sees rugby league convert Sam Burgess start having made a positive impact off the bench against Fiji.

The Bath man has been preferred to Henry Slade in midfield, where he will partner Brad Barritt up against Roberts and Scott Williams, the latter of whom suggested that he would prefer to play against Burgess than the man he was replacing in the side.

In the forwards, Billy Vunipola comes in for the injured Ben Morgan at number eight, while both James Haskell and Alex Goode are named on the bench having missed out entirely against Fiji.

As expected, Wales have made a number of changes themselves, with the likes of George North, Roberts and Dan Biggar amongst those to return to the side.

Mike Phillips will not make his 100th appearance for his country having been left out of the matchday 23, with Gareth Davies preferred at scrum-half behind a familiar back-row of Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton and Taulupe Faletau.

Gatland has also stuck with Hallam Amos on the wing ahead of Alex Cuthbert, while Tomas Francis and Gethin Jenkins come in at prop.

England starting lineup:
Mike Brown; Anthony Watson, Brad Barritt, Sam Burgess, Jonny May, Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw, Billy Vunipola
Subs: Rob Webber, Mako Vunipola, Kieran Brookes, Joe Launchbury, James Haskell, Richard Wigglesworth, George Ford, Alex Goode

Wales starting lineup:
Liam Williams; George North, Scott Williams, Jamie Roberts, Hallam Amos; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Gethin Jenkins, Scott Baldwin, Tomas Francis, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton, Taulupe Faletau
Subs: Ken Owens, Aaron Jarvis, Samson Lee, Luke Charteris, Justin Tipuric, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, Alex Cuthbert

Head To Head

Wales have won three of their last five meetings with England, one of which came at Twickenham three years ago. However, recent history has favoured the Red Rose, who have won the last two editions of this fixture.

The latest of those was the aforementioned triumph in the opening game of the 2015 Six Nations, and another win this weekend would give them three on the bounce for the first time since 2011.

Wales have won at Rugby HQ twice in their last five visits, but prior to that England had won 10 meetings in a row against their closest rivals.

We say: England 24-20 Wales

The importance of this match cannot be overstated, and nerves are bound to be prevalent for both sides. Wales may have had the upper hand with a fully fit squad, but injuries to key players have really harmed their chances and, if they give a lot of penalties away again, they could get punished by the boot of Farrell. It should be a close game and an incredible spectacle, but we're backing England to edge the mouth-watering showdown by four.