ARGENTINA HEAD coach Santiago Phelan is confident his side will pose a serious threat to England on Saturday after world-class outhalf Juan Martin Hernandez was named in the side for the Old Trafford clash.

Hernandez (26), enhanced his status as one of the finest tacticians in the game during his side’s stunning 2007 World Cup campaign, when the Pumas topped their group and finished third overall.

He is available for this weekend’s game and the second Test in Argentina seven days later following the elimination of Stade Francais from the French Championship semi-finals.

Hernandez will start at outhalf and Phelan said: “It’s a great opportunity for Hernandez to show what he is capable of because he is a truly great player, but all the players are looking forward to the game.

“We’re definitely ready for England on Saturday.”

Former Sale skipper Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe will captain the side in the absence of the injured Felipe Contepomi and start at number eight. The powerhouse forward (27), has joined affluent French Top-14 outfit Toulon.

Hernandez’s Stade Francais team-mate Juan Manuel Leguizamon, formerly of London Irish, is in the side along with Harlequins centre Gonzalo Tiesi.

The two-Test series promises to provide a stern examination for England, who shipped five tries in a miserable 33-26 defeat against the Barbarians last weekend.

ENGLAND: D Armitage; M Cueto, D Hipkiss, T May, M Banahan; A Goode, D Care; T Payne, D Hartley, D Wilson; S Borthwick (capt), L Deacon, J Haskell, S Armitage, N Easter. Replacements: S Thompson, J White, B Kay, J Crane, P Hodgson,S Vesty, M Tait.

ARGENTINA: H Agulla; G Camacho, M Avramovic, G Tiesi, F Aramburu; N Vergallo, J M Hernandez; J Lobbe (capt), J Leguizamon, A Galindo, P Albacete, M Carizza, J Orlandi, A Basualdo, R Roncero. Replacements: E Guinazu, M Ayerza, E Lozada, A Abadie, A Lalanne, S Fernandez, L Amorosino.