Simon Shaw and Mathew Tait have both been included in England's match squad for Saturday's Twickenham international against New Zealand.
The pair survived the cut when England manager Martin Johnson released 10 players back to their clubs on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's team announcement.
Wasps lock Shaw missed this month's defeat by Australia and last weekend's unconvincing 16-9 win over Argentina with a foot injury.
But he is now widely expected to be in the starting line-up alongside England captain Steve Borthwick when second row great Johnson names his team for the side's third and final Test match this month.
Shaw has returned to the squad in place of Courtney Lawes.
Northampton's rising star made his debut off the bench against Australia but did not feature in the win over Argentina.
This year saw the 36-year-old Shaw star for the British and Irish Lions in South Africa, a brilliant display in the tourists' second Test defeat followed up by a key role in their third Test win over the world champions.
"Shawsy is back in the mix. If he gives anything like he gave the Lions in that second Test, I will be happy," said the England and Lions scrum coach Graham Rowntree.
Tait, sent back to club rugby from England's training squad in the build-up to their past two matches, has the potential to inject some much needed guile and pace into a pedestrian and predictable back division.
Specialist fly-half Andy Goode makes way for Tait, who could provide England with additional cover at full-back after stand-in Ugo Monye, a wing, struggled in the No 15 shirt against the Pumas.
Prop forward David Wilson is still struggling with the neck and shoulder injuries he suffered during the Australia match.
If Wilson is ruled out, Duncan Bell will likely remain as England's tighthead with Paul Doran-Jones providing bench cover for both prop positions.
England were booed by their own fans during their lacklustre display against Argentina and Rowntree said: "I have no issue with the crowd booing us last week. They paid their money and have a right to do that.
"We are playing New Zealand at Twickenham. I am sure the crowd will get behind us.
"We have to get the lads up for this game. There are only a few times in your career you will play New Zealand at Twickenham and, let's be frank, we have got nothing to lose, have we?"
Meanwhile Borthwick told Sky Sports: "We are making sure we are putting the hard work in, and making sure we are better than last weekend.
"We have not played to our potential and the challenge is to play to our limits and find out exactly where our limits are - maximise our ability."
Copyright 2009 AFP Global Edition
