Captain Alec Stewart and his predecessor Michael Atherton, who withdrew from last week's drawn match with Western Australia with a stiff back and bruised hip respectively, have both recovered while Mark Butcher will play despite twice needing stitches in head wounds in the past week.

Alec Stewart: Free from back pain

Mark Ramprakash, who is expected to face stiff competition from John Crawley for the sixth batting place in the Ashes series, has also shrugged off the cold which prevented him practising on Friday.

The four-day match agains the Redbacks, who are coached by former Australian captain Greg Chappell, is England's penultimate warm-up before the first Test in Brisbane.

Dean Headley: 'Competition for places is healthy' (BBC Radio 5 Live)

Darren Gough and Alan Mullally, the pick of England's bowlers in Perth, are rested to allow young fast bowler Alex Tudor to make his first-class debut for his country while Dean Headley completes the seam attack alongside Dominic Cork and Angus Fraser.

"Both Cork and Gus would admit they need another run-out and they need some bowling under their belts," said manager Graham Gooch.

Graham Thorpe and Mark Butcher wait their turn in the nets

"This is a good opportunity for Tudor to play. We have brought him on this tour for experience but he is not going to spend all his time on the sidelines.

"We have been impressed by his attitude and he has been bowling well in the nets and this game is all part of the learning curve for him."

Off-spinner Robert Croft is also rested to give Peter Such his first appearance since conceding 67 runs in nine overs in the opening one-run victory over an ACB Chairman's XI at Lilac Hill a week ago.

But all-rounder Ben Hollioake, who pulled his groin scoring 28 in the same match, has failed to shrug off his injury.

He now needs an impressive performance in next week's match against Queensland in Cairns to press his claims for selection at the Gabba on November 20.

Frustration

Hollioake is desperate to stake a claim for a place in opening Test.

"It is still very much available and it's up to me to be ready if and when the call," he said.

"It's incredibly frustrating because I would probably have played in this game against South Australia.

"Unless they really, really want me to play in the first Test, my last chance to make it for the team in Brisbane is to play in Cairns next week."

Darrell Hair and Sri Lankan Kandiah Francis have been appointed to umpire the first Test, while Srinivas Venkatraghavan and newcomer Daryl Harper will stand for the second Test at Perth, starting on November 29.

The England team to play South Australia: