Jonny Wilkinson is limping to Oz

Wilkinson has been advised by Toulon club medics to avoid all contact training until three days before England's first Test against the Wallabies after suffering rib damage.

Johnson confirmed he has no plans to use Wilkinson in a David Beckham-style cheer-leading role if the stand-off is not fit enough to compete for a Test place. But England, who will fully assess Wilkinson themselves today, have no reason to doubt he will make tomorrow's flight to Perth.

"To have Jonny in your squad is always a positive but if he is not fit he won't go and he won't play – but we are confident he is fit," said Johnson.

"The physios are always working hard getting guys back on the field but we are confident he will be good to go. It is a muscle strain in his ribs.

"Some guys recover quicker from injuries, some are slower. We are confident he will be fit to travel and fit to train with us and play out there."

Wilkinson was never slated to be involved at Twickenham this afternoon, where England warm up for their five-match tour with a traditional Twickenham fixture against the Barbarians.

And with Toby Flood in Guinness Premiership final action yesterday, Charlie Hodgson has the chance to stake a claim for a Test return.

Hodgson last featured for England on the ill-fated summer tour to New Zealand, when he was dropped after the first Test and criticised by his coaches as a defensive liability.

The Sale fly-half thought his international career was over after Rob Andrew, England's stand-in manager on the tour, told him pointedly that "some bits of rugby aren't optional".

But Johnson has been impressed by the way the 29-year-old playmaker has worked on his defence, epitomised by a brilliant try-saving tackle on Ugo Monye earlier this season.

Johnson has told Hodgson that the door is open for a full Test return against the Wallabies on 12 June if he takes his chance today.

"He could be involved in the Tests very easily," said Johnson. "

Sometimes things happen and guys get injured and you get a shot.

"We want to see Charlie control the game for us, make his calls at appropriate times, execute when we are attacking. Defensively he will need to be strong and hold that channel up – they will probably have a go at him as we will have a go at their players round there.

"He is an experienced player and has got some good guys around him. It is a chance for him to compete to be in Test match 22s."

The England side features three uncapped players in Bath centre Shontayne Hape, Gloucester lock Dave Attwood and Newcastle prop Jon Golding. Paul Doran-Jones also gets another chance to don the red rose after winning his debut cap in the autumn as England struggled with a front-row injury crisis.

"Paul got a shot in the autumn. He thought it wasn't going to happen then but it did and he did pretty well and it is another chance for him as well," said Johnson.

This may not be a capped international, but the Barbarians boast an experienced side captained by Xavier Rush and featuring five members of Toulon's Heineken Cup-winning squad.

Ben Kay, Johnson's former Leicester and England second-row partner, lines up for the Barbarians in what could be his final game if rumours of impending retirement are true.