England have resisted the temptation to experiment for the fifth Test against South Africa, with under-performers Mark Butcher, Darren Maddy and Chris Adams all included in the 12-man "squad".

The tourists will have to make one forced change, having lost Andrew Flintoff to a stress fracture in his foot, but the team is unlikely to be announced until just before the toss.

England's erratic batting remains a major worry as virtually the same line-up that collapsed spectacularly before the onslaught of Hansie Cronje's men in Cape Town will face South Africa again.

Late arrivals Vikram Solanki and Mark Ramprakash remain on the sidelines, while one-dayers like Nick Knight - who scored 111 in the last three-day tour match - have already been told they were not considered.

Maddy could get the nod ahead of Adams as the tourists seek to discover the hidden art of making big totals.

The pitch at Centurion Park is likely to be extremely quick, favouring the superior pace attack of the South Africans.

Chief among England's tormentors, Allan Donald may decide to retire after this match if he can pass the 300-wicket mark in Tests.

That would require 10 wickets, but it has been noted that he took five wickets in both innings during his last two appearances at this ground.

Given the conditions, England will probably drop left-arm spinner Phil Tufnell in favour of the newly fit Alan Mullally and the hot-and-cold skills of Alex Tudor.

Meanwhile, Darren Gough, who has failed to hit peak form, has angrily denied that he is a force on the wane after a serious calf injury.

"I've had a long lay-off, but that's no excuse," he said.

"I've bowled the same this winter as I did last winter [Ashes, Australia] - I haven't had the breaks and things just haven't gone my way, but I'll keep going and keep running in.

"When I get it right I know I'm still one of the best bowlers in the world."

He will need to prove it if England are to avoid a 3-0 defeat - a scoreline that captain Nasser Hussain feels would not properly reflect his side's competitiveness on tour.

The umpire who made several controversial decisions in the second Test, South Africa's Rudi Koertzen, will officiate at Centurion Park.

England
To be selected from:

MA Butcher (Surrey), MA Atherton (Lancashire), N Hussain (Essex, capt), MP Vaughan (Yorkshire), AJ Stewart (Surrey, wkt), CJ Adams (Sussex), DL Maddy (Leicestershire), GM Hamilton (Yorkshire), AR Caddick (Somerset), D Gough (Yorkshire), CEW Silverwood (Yorkshire), PCR Tufnell (Middlesex), AD Mullally (Hampshire).

Umpires: RE Koertzen (SA) & DB Hair (Aus).
3rd umpire: CJ Mitchley (SA).
Match referee: B Jarman (Aus).