Bent set to partner Rooney

Darren Bent will make his first England start for nearly four years on Saturday in a high-profile friendly against Brazil.

He knows that a match-winning performance against Brazil might well book him a place at the World Cup.

Bent is set to jump above Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch to start alongside captain-in-waiting Wayne Rooney in Qatar.

It is a reward for an excellent eight-goal start to his Sunderland career, even though he did miss a penalty in front of Capello at Tottenham last weekend.

But, with just one friendly remaining before Capello names his provisional squad for South Africa next May, it also represents what could be Bent's last chance to force his way into the Italian's plans.

"I have not totally decided but it is 60% for Bent and 40% for Defoe to start tomorrow," said Capello.

"I know Defoe and Peter Crouch very well. I need to know more about Bent.

"I like his pace. He is quick, he attacks the space. His movement without the ball is excellent and his ability in front of goal is very good. I want to see this tomorrow."

The opposition could be no sterner, although given the circumstances, Capello is happy to be facing the five-times World Cup winners without eight or nine of his first-choice line-up depending upon whether John Terry recovers from an ankle injury.

With fringe places up for grabs, including at least one striking berth and possibly two, in Capello's 23-man World Cup squad and some of the squad men keen to become regulars, it will be a hungry England side that goes hunting a fourth win against the most popular team on the planet.

"It is really important to understand the value of some of the players tomorrow," said Capello.

"When these players are with their clubs, they always play very well. Sometimes when they play in the Champions League or the Europa League, they are not the same.

"I want to understand what happens when they play against one of the best teams in the world."

Although he did not quite name his starting line-up, Capello only left a few gaps.

Bent and Rooney up front. One man trying to force his way into the squad, another certain of his place.

Shaun Wright-Phillips, Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick and James Milner across midfield. Of that quartet, only Barry can start packing. To a lesser or greater extent, the other three have a little way to go.

Wayne Bridge at left-back, Matthew Upson alongside Terry, if the skipper plays. The former more likely to go to South Africa than not but hopelessly out of form for Manchester City last weekend and humiliated on TV by Alan Hansen, the latter a definite, having established himself as Rio Ferdinand's regular replacement.

Ironically, both Robert Green and Ben Foster, who will be vying for the goalkeeping slot, are both set to make the final cut.

The same cannot be said for Wes Brown, who has been a regular under Capello but lost his place to Glen Johnson when he got injured last season, while Terry's replacement could be Bolton's Gary Cahill, who would both be making his debut and becoming the Trotters' first England international since Michael Ricketts won his single cap in February 2002.

And, as examinations go, it could not be more stern.

Unbeaten in 16 months, winners of this summer's Confederations Cup and now back to number one in the FIFA rankings, Capello has always given the impression Spain are the biggest danger to England next summer. Now he concedes Brazil are the ones to catch.

"They are one of the best teams in the world," he said.

"Spain play with the ball a lot but without Torres, they lose a lot of their strength because they need someone who is very fast.

"But Brazil have two or three who are really fast with or without the ball. It means there is more danger when you have the ball.

"Spain have more possession. Brazil go straight to the goal.