Paul Collingwood believes England have conquered the fear factor that has plagued their battles with Australia in recent years and the self-belief in the home camp is at its highest since his debut four years ago.

Collingwood, fresh from his record-breaking exploits at Trent Bridge on Tuesday, will be on home ground today as Michael Vaughan's side face the Aussies at Chester-le-Street in front of a 16,000 sell-out crowd.

The Durham all-rounder can recall his debut summer for his country against the Aussies and Pakistan in 2001, when England were almost in awe of their opponents.

But Collingwood believes England currently have the confidence to overcome any opposition and that their one-day side is knitting together well ahead of the 2007 World Cup.

He feels the win over Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy at Edgbaston last September - Collingwood himself hit the winning runs - was a massive hurdle to overcome after being on the receiving end from the old enemy for many years.

Now skipper Vaughan's side already have one foot in the door of the final of the NatWest Series after demolishing Bangladesh by 168 runs at Trent Bridge on Tuesday evening.

Collingwood said: ''It has been a massive boost beating Australia twice this summer so far. I think last year was a big hurdle to get over in beating them in the ICC Champions Trophy in the semi-final.

''We have played some really good cricket. There is a lot of self-belief in that dressing room. We are not going out with any fear against Australia and it shows on the park.

''It's just the confidence that has been gained over the last two years from winning. You have to start winning before you get that and once we get that confidence we have to keep it going and, if we lose a game, we have not to worry about it too much.

''There is a huge difference to when I first played for England in 2001 - the belief in the side, the approach to one-day cricket, the strategies. Just everything about one-day cricket is different to when I started.

''We had Australia and Pakistan over here at the time and we were quite fearful of them at the time.

''We play Australia now and there is a lot of belief in the dressing room. We have spoken about it but it has to come from within really.''

Collingwood is aware that Australia will perform better than they have done to date on this tour and that England do not have to panic if a couple of results go against them ahead of the Ashes series.

He said: ''It would be an ideal situation if we continue our winning ways but Australia are a great side and have been for a good ten years now.

''If we keep winning we are going to have to keep our feet on the ground. If we lose a couple it's the same thing, we are going to have to keep on an even keel.''

England, meanwhile, face an anxious wait to discover whether Vaughan has recovered from his groin strain to lead England in today's day-night encounter.

Vaughan was missing for most of Bangladesh's innings during England's emphatic victory on Tuesday after suffering the injury which was said by an England spokesman to have left him in ''some discomfort.''

He has since undergone intensive treatment and will undergo a thorough fitness test before England make a decision on their line-up. Vikram Solanki is favourite to replace the captain should he fail to recover.

England (from): M Trescothick, A Strauss, M Vaughan (capt), A Flintoff, P Collingwood, G Jones (wkt), K Pietersen, A Giles, J Lewis, C Tremlett, S Harmison, D Gough, V Solanki

Australia (from): M Hayden, A Gilchrist (wkt), R Ponting (capt), D Martyn, M Clarke, A Symonds, M Hussey, B Hogg, S Watson, M Kasprowicz, B Lee, J Gillespie, G McGrath.