It is more than a year since Sale Sharks fly-half Hodgson last wore the England jersey in a Test match.

And his scintillating debut, when he scored a red rose record 44 points against Romania at Twickenham, seems an age ago.

Hodgson has won just seven more caps since that 134-0 Romanian romp in November, 2001, predictably playing second fiddle to Jonny Wilkinson, but also having paid a hefty price for two serious knee injuries.

The first one, sustained against Italy 15 months ago, ultimately destroyed his World Cup dream.

And then, a second largely unrelated knee problem suffered while on European Cup duty earlier this year, sidelined him from RBS 6 Nations contention at exactly the wrong time, given that Wilkinson was injured and England sorely needed Hodgsons rich play-making skills.

Appropriately enough, Hodgson will run out at the so-called House of Pain - Carisbrook in Dunedin - and an appointment with the All Blacks, if he wins head coach Sir Clive Woodwards selection vote above number 10 Olly Barkley.

Woodward is keeping selection cards close to his chest ahead of Tuesdays planned team announcement, but there is a feeling that Hodgson starting the game could provide England with midfield creativity they have lacked post-World Cup.

Given that centre Will Greenwood has been rested from tour duties in New Zealand and Australia this month, Hodgson might be just the man to spark England by justifying his reputation as a game-breaker par excellence.

Should Hodgson be preferred to Barkley, then it is not stretching the point to suggest it will be the most important game of his life.

The tour is a massive challenge for me - these are the biggest games I will have been involved with, admitted the 23-year-old Yorkshireman.

Ive had a few setbacks in my time, but the fact Ive come through all of those means I am feeling fresh and looking forward to the next few weeks.

My form has been up and down, but I feel better with each game and I am beginning to get my confidence back. Hopefully, given the chance, we will see what happens.

The last 12 months have been very difficult. You lose contact with the England set-up and what actually goes on, but this is another chance for me to get involved again and I am going to give it my best, Hodgson added.

The time out has strengthened me, because you have to learn to cope with things like that. You become mentally stronger.

I accepted what happened pretty much straight away, and then just got on with it. When you get on with the hard work, it gets easier each day as you work towards your goal.

Woodward could make around half a dozen changes - some of them enforced - from the side beaten by France when Bernard Laportes team were crowned RBS 6 Nations champions in Paris 10 weeks ago.

Josh Lewsey is expected to replace rested full-back Jason Robinson, with Gloucesters James Simpson-Daniel taking over from Lewsey on the wing and Stuart Abbott stepping up as a serious midfield alternative to Greenwood.

Despite his chronic lack of competitive rugby over recent weeks, scrum-half Matt Dawson is still expected to edge out Andy Gomarsall once more, while Leicester prop Julian White should replace an injured Phil Vickery.

It looks like Steve Borthwick or Simon Shaw to partner Danny Grewcock in the second-row, with tall, rangy Sharks forward Chris Jones packing down alongside back-row colleagues Richard Hill and skipper Lawrence Dallaglio.

If Woodward really wanted to pull one from the hat though, then Bath openside flanker Michael Lipman cannot be discounted. His recent club form has made an impact in all the right places, England-wise.

New Zealand, under their new coaching team of Graham Henry, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen, are striving to avoid an unprecedented third successive defeat against England.

Former Wales and Lions boss Henry is set for a Wednesday team announcement, with speculation surrounding openside specialists Richie McCaw and Marty Holah both gaining back-row starting slots.