Lions flanker Williams has been on the receiving end of some thumping defeats against Wales traditional rugby enemy, and is well aware that England have not lost in Cardiff since an opportunist Ieuan Evans try ambushed them 12 years ago.

The popular theory is though, that Wales have an outstanding chance to end that sequence this weekend, especially given Englands lengthy injury list.

And a Welsh victory would end an eventful time for Williams, who was all but ruled out of the Millennium Stadium clash last week.

A disc problem in his neck continued to trouble the 29-year-old, and initial medical opinion was that he wouldnt recover to face England, or Italy in Rome on Saturday week.

When Colin Charvis then succumbed to a foot injury, Wales coach Mike Ruddock called up Neath-Swansea Ospreys openside Richie Pugh, while Williams Cardiff colleague Robin Sowden-Taylor also found himself required for training.

Williams prospects of reaching the 50-cap milestone by enjoying a red-letter day against England at the Millennium Stadium appeared bleak, but he has confounded medical opinion just in time.

On Monday of last week, they told me I would probably miss the first two games of the Six Nations, said Williams.

Colin was injured as well, and I thought it would be just my luck that I would be out, too.

It has been a bit of rollercoaster, because on Thursday and Friday of last week, they said I could be fit, and luckily Ive come through.

Initially, I was told I was very doubtful for the England game. But it was a symptom-based injury, and as soon as the symptoms went away, I would be okay to play. It got better a lot quicker than I think the medical team thought, he added.

They couldnt really treat the injury. I couldnt do any weights or contact, and all I could do was rest.

But the one thing I have been able to do for the past four weeks is fitness work. I would like to have played a couple of games - its four weeks since I last played - but I feel fresh, definitely.

People are saying it is our best chance of beating England since 1999. But in all the other games since then, we were massive underdogs, so there was no pressure on us.

We havent been expected to come near England over the past two or three years, yet people will see this weekend as our chance because they are missing some big, familiar names theyve had in the past.

But if you look at their side, it is very difficult to find a weakness there, so its still a huge challenge for us.