Brian Ashton names his England side for next weekend's Six Nations opener against Wales on Tuesday, and all eyes will be on the identity of his fly-half. With Danny Cipriani waiting in the wings, Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson talks to Jonny Wilkinson about his battle to retain the number ten shirt

IT was a comment that would not normally attract attention. "I'm not coming here as number two," said Danny Cipriani, as he prepared to take his place in the England squad. Fine. Except, of course, when the number one is a certain Jonny Wilkinson.

There will be a number of intriguing sub-plots to England's forthcoming Six Nations campaign, but none will be as competitive or controversial as the battle for the number ten shirt.

In one corner, Wilkinson, England's undisputed fly-half champion for more than six years and a player who shrugged off a serious ankle injury to guide his country to the final of last autumn's Rugby World Cup.

In the other, Cipriani, a 20-year-old challenger who has taken this season's Heineken Cup by storm and left the likes of Lawrence Dallaglio and Martin Johnson drooling at his speed and vision.

One represents England's past, the other England's future. But only Brian Ashton knows which will be a part of England's present when Wales visit Twickenham in the opening round of Six Nations fixtures next weekend.

At the moment, Wilkinson looks likely to receive the nod. For all that the post-World Cup era represents an opportunity for experimentation and change, Ashton's one-year contract with the RFU demands an instant improvement in Six Nations fortunes.

But the moment the Newcastle Falcons fly-half puts a foot wrong, the momentum will change. Cipriani's time in coming, and while Wilkinson's enormous reputation would unsettle most pretenders to his position, the Wasps youngster exudes the kind of confidence and ambition that once characterised his rival's ascent to the crown.

In some quarters, Cipriani's bullishness has been interpreted as disrespectful and aggressive. To Wilkinson, though, it is merely a reminder of the single-minded approach that enabled him to kick England to World Cup glory in 2003.

"I don't see it as arrogance at all," said the Falcons fly-half. "Knowing the guy as I do, I feel it fits in well with his motivation and desire to take on challenges and really attack them.

"That's the kind of attitude you need. It's the motivation everyone needs. At the top level, if you ask anyone if they want to play as a number two, they'll say no. Before you go into a game against the very best - the likes of New Zealand or Australia - you need that attitude. You need to have an approach that says, 'I don't want to come off second best here'.

"It's great, and the fact he is thinking like that proves he's a guy getting ready for international rugby."

But isn't Wilkinson at least a little bit concerned that his time as England's talisman might be drawing to an end? His displays in last autumn's World Cup were far from emphatic, and while an ongoing ankle problem helped explain the uncharacteristic kicking errors that plagued a number of his performances in France, the inventive spark of old only flickered sporadically.

Cipriani is his closest rival at the moment, but the 20-year-old is merely one of a number of emerging fly-halves harbouring international ambitions. The likes of Newcastle's Toby Flood and London Irish's Shane Geraghty are also hoping to nudge Wilkinson out of the team, and Ashton is being urged to give youth its head as the latest four-year World Cup cycle begins.

Competition in the next 12 months is likely to be fierce, but after an era in which Wilkinson's supremacy was all but unchallenged, a fight for the number ten jersey might be just what Ashton needs as he attempts to ally an expansive attacking game to his side's formidable forward strength.

"I think it's fantastic there's so much talent in England at the moment," said Wilkinson "It's great for the game and it's great for the England team going forward.

"It's fantastic for the growth of rugby in the country as a whole. There are guys out there doing great things for their clubs, and they deserve all of the credit and praise they're getting. Not only are they playing well, they're also playing consistently in some of the biggest games you can get.

"It's brilliant for them. They're staking their claim, and the rewards are there for them. They can be considered for international honours, and if I'm considered in that same pot, then great."

Ultimately, though, it is Wilkinson's shirt they are attempting to claim. The 28-year-old might be the man in possession having started England's World Cup final defeat to South Africa, but there are plenty of pretenders with Wilkinson firmly in their sights.

"It's funny, I don't understand the concept of them gunning for me," he countered. "It's not my jersey. I played the last game for England, but that's more or less where it finishes. It's all about who's going to play in the next game now.

"I hope those guys aren't gunning for anything apart from gunning for their best. That's what England needs. It's wonderful to have all these guys playing at such a high level.

"I think it's great, but I don't necessarily see it as a pressure. It's not a pressure that drives me. If there's any kind of expectation, it's on myself to perform in a way I know I can.

"For me, it's not about competing against people, it's all about competing against myself. That's the way it's always been."

Competing, and attempting to enjoy the experience into the bargain. In the past, Wilkinson readily admits he has been consumed by the intensity of Six Nations competition. This season, as he passes the 70-cap mark for his country, he intends to play his rugby with a smile.

"I've enjoyed every Newcastle game I've been involved in with this season," he said. "But I can't afford to think, 'Right, it's Six Nations time, it's time to drop back into the old routine of sacrificing fun because there's all of this pressure'.

"You can't think, 'If you don't do it, something terrible is going to happen and, if you do, something great's going to happen'. Neither is true.

"It should be case of enjoy it, give it everything you've got, and move on to the next thing. I think that's where I am and, mentally, I think that's why I feel good at the moment."

Focused, confident, happy. Cipriani might have to wait a little while yet before he relinquishes his status as Wilkinson's number two.