Great Britain coach David Waite won't risk taking injured players into the first Think! Road Safety Ashes Test against Australia on Saturday.

Waite, flanked at yesterday's press conference by crocked stars Andrew Farrell and Paul Sculthorpe, admitted the pair were not yet back to full fitness.

"Are they 100 per cent fit today? I'd say no. Will they be 100 per cent fit

for the weekend? I'd say very, very likely," said Waite.

Although he expects to have a full squad to choose from, Waite said he would

gamble on players if they were not fully fit.

"We'll make a sensible decision with all the facts at our disposal when we pick the final 17. We would be fairly nave to risk players in a three-game series in game one," he said.

Farrell, Waite's first-choice skipper, said he was confident his injured knee would hold up for the series.

"I had a good hit-out on Friday and I'm confident the leg is going to be okay," said Farrell.

Sculthorpe, the likely leader in Farrell's absence, has yet to resume training with the squad due to a calf strain.

Waite has called for calm amid the growing clamour for the talented youngsters in the England A side to be unleashed against Australia. He said it was wrong to question the selection of his top squad before they had played a match at full strength.

"I have absolute faith in the side that we've picked. The proof of the pudding is over a three-Test series and I have no doubt that the side we

have picked has the best available players. I rightfully said that people in England A can force their way in but it would be terribly strange to force their way in before we've actually played the opposition."