Andrew Strauss is adamant England have what it takes to snatch the Ashes urn from Australia's grasp and send the country cricket-crazy all over again.
Strauss leads his team into today's deciding Test at The Brit Oval knowing that a performance anywhere near as bad as the one at Headingley a fortnight ago will see the series thrown away.
However, England's captain is expecting far, far more from the hosts.
"The guys have stuck together exceptionally well and I think we are as tight a unit now as we were at the start of the series," said Strauss.
"We are going to need that togetherness over these five days, but I've got a lot of faith in the characters in our side and I think they will deliver."
Most of the talk since Australia levelled the series with an innings and 80-run victory at Headingley has been about the lack of mental toughness in Strauss's team. But the skipper insists his men will not be found wanting.
"Most of us have been through a lot - some great times, like in 2005, which was as big a challenge as any team could have, and some tough times, as in the last six or 12 months," said Strauss. "Generally we have come through and guys are holding their heads up. The guys are committed to the team."
England were almost certainly guilty of getting ahead of themselves in Leeds - thinking about winning the Ashes by going 2-0 up before they had faced a ball in the Fourth Test.
This time, the excitement of the occasion and the emotion generated by Andrew Flintoff's final Test appearance could either work in their favour or count against them.
"In important games there is an element of nerves and excitement, but you play your best cricket when you are emotionless so it's a case of your head ruling your heart most of the time," said Strauss. "There are lessons to be learned from Headingley.
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"Clearly none of us are struggling for motivation this week, everyone is just genuinely excited about playing because it could be a very, very special game.
"I'm absolutely certain we are going to come out and play well. I've got no doubt about it.
"The crowd will get behind us, there is going to be fantastic support for us and the guys are going to go out there in the right frame of mind and enjoy their cricket.
"The key for us is to play smart cricket and maybe we haven't done that as much as we would like in the past. We've done it at times — and this is a time we need to do it.
"Pressure is only something you put on yourself and that is not going to be something that will pre-occupy us."
Australia captain Ricky Ponting says the fact this could be his last Ashes Test in this country won't distract him as he focuses on keeping the urn.
The 34-year-old, who was captain during the 2005 defeat here, said: "I haven't really thought about it.
"I'm just making sure I've got my own game in good order. That is really important, as the No3 in the team."
