The former Great Britain rugby league captain replaces Olly Barkley in midfield as one of five personnel changes following the Pool A victory over Tonga in Paris last Friday.

Farrell took over from Barkley early in the second half, and made a try-scoring contribution as England booked their place in the last eight.

Full-back Jason Robinson, meanwhile, has recovered from a hamstring injury sustained against South Africa last month, with Josh Lewsey moving to the wing instead of Mark Cueto.

Three switches in the pack see hooker Mark Regan preferred to George Chuter, World Cup skipper Phil Vickery back at tighthead prop for Matt Stevens and lock Simon Shaw replacing Steve Borthwick.

Flanker Lewis Moody wins his 50th cap in an unchanged back row after the Tonga clash, which means Lawrence Dallaglio remaining on the bench.

Farrells union career has been severely disrupted by injuries, but he now faces his biggest game since switching codes and joining Saracens from Wigan.

Barkley pays the price for a defensively-suspect display against Tonga, moving to the bench, where he is joined by Chuter, Stevens, Dallaglio, Joe Worsley, Peter Richards and Dan Hipkiss.

Robinson limped off during Englands record 36-0 World Cup loss to the Springboks 19 days ago, nursing an injury that forced him to miss the Samoa and Tonga games.

But he now returns for his 49th cap in what would be a final Test appearance before retirement if England lose.

Cueto, meanwhile, has been struggling to overcome a calf muscle injury, but the versatile Lewsey is no stranger to wing duties.

Regan offers greater experience than Chuter, which might have clinched his selection, and Shaw  arguably Englands form World Cup forward  returns to partner Ben Kay in the second row.

Robinson, Lewsey, Vickery, Kay and fly-half Jonny Wilkinson are all starting line-up survivors from the 2003 World Cup final in Sydney, when England beat the Wallabies 20-17.

Saturdays victors will secure a semi-final clash against tournament favourites New Zealand or host nation France in Paris on October 13.