Gerrard is expected to play a key role at the Slaski Stadium having fully recovered from a groin problem and is full of confidence following his sensational goal against Austria.

The Liverpool captain is all too aware that a nation expects after the team left Vienna with just one point following the 2-2 draw against Hans Krankl's side.

But it is not the first time a great deal of attention has been placed on an England fixture and yet fans should be used to the team delivering the goods.

The atmosphere is expected to be intense in Poland, but no more so than when England went to Turkey last year and got the point they needed to qualify for the World Cup as Group winners.

It was one of the team's best performances under coach Sven Goran Eriksson and Gerrard feels the same spirit shown back then will reap them even better rewards this time.

He said: "England have shown in the past that we can perform really well under pressure. You just have to look at the Turkey game away last year and we are looking for one of those kind of performances on Wednesday night.

"I don't think we are a soft touch and I hope we prove that in the future. We have come away from Austria with a point, but we are going to take away the positives and put it into the Poland game.

"We are definitely looking to win and four points will do from the first two games. We were looking for six, so we want to bounce back and put on a good performance. I am confident we can do that."

The Poles are in confident mood having won their first qualifying game and they know a victory will put themselves five points clear of England.

While Gerrard is full or respect for the opposition, he believes England will be too good for them should they continue to gel as a unit both on and off the pitch.

He added: "We can't think as individuals. We have to stick together as a team and stick together when we have that lead to make sure we don't concede stupid goals.

"If we keep playing the way we can do, we can win easily because up to 70 minutes in the Austria game we were in complete control.

"The players love Sven-Goran Eriksson as the manager and we are 100 per cent behind him. We feel he is the right man to be the England manager, but we do understand that if things don't go right on the pitch that he will take the majority of the blame.

"We as players feel that that is a bit unfair because we are the ones who go out and do the job. I suppose there will be more pressure in Poland, but there always will be at this level and especially if you don't get the result people expect, like against Austria.

"I think this match was hard anyway before the draw in Austria. Poland got a good result and they are a good side especially at home, but we have the players in this squad to beat them."

Click on the links below to watch a video of the full press conference with Steven Gerrard.

03 September 2004  
Steven Gerrard press conference