England's last chance

England head into the final Test against South Africa 2-1 down in the series.

BBC Sport looks at five questions England's selectors must answer before Friday, when they announce their squad for The Oval Test, which begins on 4 September.

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What is the main aim?

England must decide whether to forsake their policy of building for the future in favour of avoiding defeat in this series.

Ramprakash could stake a claim on his home ground

Young players such as Ed Smith and Kabir Ali have hardly had a chance to prove themselves and could feature during winter tours to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

But they may not be the best choice for a single match which England must win.

At The Oval, home of defending county champions Surrey, veteran batsmen Mark Ramprakash and Graham Thorpe have an extra allure.

And seamer Martin Bicknell, in his 18th season at the ground, is in an ideal position to pass on his knowledge to an inexperienced pace corps.

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Will Nasser Hussain play?

Hussain has been an integral member of the England batting line-up since his resignation as captain, with 269 runs in six innings, including a vital century at Trent Bridge.

He scotched speculation that a fractured left toe was caused by a frustrated kick at a wall by explaining he is right-footed.

But Hussain faces an anxious nine days, waiting on medical advice to see if he will be able to play.

"We'll just have to see how it progresses," he told BBC Sport on Monday. "At the moment, I can't get my foot into a shoe."

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Should the batting order be changed?

They were hailed as the future of the England side, but Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan have failed to put on a century opening partnership in the last year.

Trescothick is too often bored out - a tempting delivery being edged to slip - for the liking of some observers and there are suggestions he should move down the order.

That could mean the in-form Mark Butcher opening, or a call-up for Middlesex skipper Andrew Strauss, who was on standby in the run-up to the Lord's Test after Trescothick fractured his finger.

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Which bowlers should make way?

The Oval is not a place to field five seamers - England may have regretted doing so at Headingley - so at least one must be left out.

Anderson appeared fatigued at Headingley

With Steve Harmison and Richard Johnson returning to fitness, England's selectors at least have some depth to choose from again but they must find the right mix.

Johnson demonstrated greater accuracy than those who have followed him and Harmison extracts more bounce then his rivals, which could be vital in South London.

James Anderson's place must also come into question after a match in which he appeared fatigued, but dropping him now may send out the wrong signals to the youngster.

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Are there any spin options?

Ashley Giles may be averaging 30.85 with the bat this summer, but in the nine-to-five of left-arm spin he is not having a good year at the office, with just seven wickets at 61.57.

Off-spinner Gareth Batty is the only alternative they have suggested so far this summer but the selectors may be wary of his inexperience at Test level.

Behind him, Richard Dawson has only taken 11 wickets for Yorkshire after his Ashes winter.

Glamorgan's Robert Croft has shouted his credential in the two years since his last Test cap and, after claiming 45 wickets and batting brilliantly this term, he must be in with a shout.