Even a victory not just for men Andrew Strauss through the knockout stages, England have to rely on other results to make their own way.

England's preparations suffered a setback when skipper Strauss and spinner Graeme Swann lead two missed training on Tuesday due to illness, while strike fast bowler James Anderson has received treatment for a shoulder chop.

A tournament sawtooth to England saw them lose to Ireland and Bangladesh have links with India and beat one thought in South Africa side.

Significantly, the victory came the Proteas in Chennai Chidambaram Stadium, where England took the nerve turns sharply to step to win low-scoring thriller in six steps.

Now, they hope Swann is fully fit again put pressure on the batsmen in a match that is not as crucial for the Caribbean, returning three days later Chidambaram to a group final against India.

"It does give things a certain amount of clarity," said Swann, all but unplayable at times while taking one for 29 against South Africa.

"If we win four games, we win the World Cup which is very simple. If we'd won our first four games it would have been a much nicer position to be in but there's no point in looking back. It all comes down to Thursday."

Swann, who in his first over in Test cricket took two wickets against India in Chennai in 2008, added: "I hope the wicket is similar to the South African one. If I could roll it up and take it around with me, I happily would."

However, he warned: "The West Indies have got Sulieman Benn, who is a fine spin bowler."

West Indies have two great opening batsmen Chris Gayle and striking in the in-form Kieron Pollard, who can change the pace of the game shortly.

Pollard hammered 94 off just 55 balls as the West Indies beat Ireland by 44 runs last time out and it was an innings the all-rounder hopes has rid him of the tag of being 'just' a Twenty20 cricketer.

"What's been said about me being a 20-over specialist, that's just history for me now," Pollard, 23, said.

"I had an opportunity to prove myself and there cannot be a bigger stage than the World Cup to do that. My innings showed what I can do. I will use this as a positive."

The good news for the West Indies is that either a win against England or India will see them into the quarter-finals and even two defeats may not be enough to end their World Cup.