Australia coach John Buchanan is plotting the ''virtual elimination'' of England from the World Cup this weekend.

Buchanan is wary of the threat posed by a team he describes as playing on the ''razor's edge'' of knockout cricket.

But he knows that if the world champions beat the old enemy at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Sunday it will take three straight victories - and some favourable results elsewhere - for England to remain in the equation for the semi-finals.

''At this stage England are playing knockout cricket - every game for them is a knockout game - which puts a bit of a razor's edge on their team and puts them on the razor's edge as well,'' said Buchanan.

''I expect that will mean they will come really well prepared to compete. I think it will be an exceptional contest".

It is an exceptional contest Australia are intent on winning, however - because the prize is not only two more Super Eight points but big trouble for England.

''Any side who are playing for their life in a tournament understands clearly what they have to do,'' the Australia coach added.

''But if we manage to come out on top we virtually eliminate another side from the tournament, and that's pretty important".

Buchanan is mindful of England's sudden resurgence, from an apparently hopeless position, to run out winners of the Commonwealth Bank Series - at the expense of Australia and New Zealand - earlier this year.

And Hampshire's Kevin Pietersen has emerged as one of the most consistent batsmen in the tournament with four half-centuries in his five innings so far.

But Australia are not using the need for revenge as part of their motivation.

''We're keen to make amends for that. But that's history now - and we have a very, very important game in the West Indies,'' said the coach.

Buchanan also took note of England's battling qualities in Wednesday's last-ball, two-run defeat against Sri Lanka.

It was a result which gives England no more margin for error but gave fresh hope that Michael Vaughan's team may have the ability to compete for a last-four spot after all.

The Australia camp were interested television observers, from their nearby hotel - not least Buchanan. ''I think the bowling dominated from both sides,'' he said of a match in which England's Sajid Mahmood took four wickets.

Two important stands between Pietersen and Ian Bell, and then Ravi Bopara and Paul Nixon, almost carried England to a vital win.

''Apart from a partnership in each innings - Pietersen and Bell's unfortunately curtailed - the bowling efforts of both sides really strangled both batting teams,'' Buchanan nonetheless concluded.

''That was the impressive part from both teams.'' Australia, meanwhile, are still trying to work out the best way to replace their injured all-rounder Shane Watson.

They do not have a like-for-like deputy in their 15-man squad - James Hopes is on stand-by in Australia should former Rose Bowl favourite Watson still be unfit for the semi-finals - and therefore must decide whether to pick an extra batsman or extra bowler.

Much of their thinking could depend on whether Andrew Symonds is fit, after his bicep operation, to bowl medium-pace as well as his off-spin if necessary.

The jury, it seems, is still out on that factor.

''It's probably a little bit early for him to do that,'' said Buchanan.

''But Andrew is Andrew - and once he takes the field, if he feels he needs to bowl medium-pace he'll be talking very strongly to the captain to say 'give me the opportunity to do it'.

''His progress has been very good, which is obviously very encouraging."