The former captain stood down from the national team to deal with personal problems, going into international retirement 16 months ago, but he considers himself in sufficiently good shape to come into the team for the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations championship.

However, the 33-year-old is not taking it for granted that head coach Andy Robinson will select him above younger candidates.

The Wasps number eight told BBC Radio Five Live: I want to prove Im good enough to be there on merit.

Ive got experience of playing at the highest level but I want to be in the team because Im the best player in the position.

And Dallaglio stressed any comeback would not be a short-sighted option for England. He has signed a two-year deal with Wasps which will keep him playing at Guinness Premiership level until the 2007 World Cup.

I dont think you can come back and say you want to play just one game, he said.

Dallaglio considers his experience in European club rugby to stand him in good stead for an international return, and on that basis said: I always think its not been long since I played international rugby.

The Lions tour of New Zealand was hugely anti-climactic for Dallaglio last year, as he returned home with a seriously ankle injury after the opening match against Bay of Plenty.

I went on the Lions tour and obviously wanted that to go better than it did, he admitted, before dispelling suggestions he might be too old for an RBS 6 Nations return.

Im still playing at the right end of the game, so why not?

With back-row forwards Lewis Moody and Pat Sanderson currently suspended and injured, Dallaglio appears to be in a strong position, providing there is no dip in his Wasps performances.

Robinson names his 30-man tournament squad later this month and watched Dallaglio play a key role in Wasps' 21-6 victory over Newcastle at the weekend.