ALEC Stewart returns to the ground he regards as his "second home" tomorrow determined to get England's tour off to a winning start and finish his career by ending his long pursuit of the Ashes.

England's tour officially begins tomorrow with the traditional opening one-day match against an ACB Chairman's XI at Lilac Hill, the ground where Stewart spent his formative years playing grade cricket for Midland Guildford.

It could be Stewart's last appearance at the ground as he contemplates what could be his final year as a professional cricketer, but before he makes that major decision he is keen to end a losing sequence of played six and lost six Ashes series.

"It's a huge challenge for me and it's one I'm looking forward to," stressed the 39-year-old wicketkeeper. "It's not a proud record for me having playing six and lost six Ashes series and if this is the last one in Australia it would be a fantastic way to leave Australia with the Ashes.

"I have huge respect for the Australian people and I love the country, but realistically I'm not coming back here again to play cricket so I've come here with big hopes and I want to enjoy the tour - I want to win the Ashes."

If England are to achieve that objective, their preparations will be crucial. They have spent the last few days training at the WACA, honing not only their cricket skills but working on their mental approach to taking on the best side in the world.

"Any side you take on you have to believe and hope you can win the series and that's the attitude I've got, but I know full well it's got to be the hardest series to play in world cricket at the moment," said Stewart.

"Australia are a fantastic side, they are the number one side in the world and have been for a while.

"But I'd like to think that we've all come over here as a group of players with the belief that we can win but knowing that it will also be the toughest five matches we'll have played in a long time.

"We have to make sure we get our game's in order so that we go into the first Test playing well as a group."

We have to have a collective belief that we're a good side and that we can challenge Australia."

"Whether we're playing Australia or Bangladesh, we should always start every series and every game believing we can win, but you also have to show respect to the opposition and there's no one I respect more than the Aussies at present."

Stewart is expected to take his place in a line-up which will be missing Darren Gough, who is still recovering from his long lay-off with knee trouble, while all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is continuing his rehabilitation after his recent hernia operation.

Former England captain Stewart could even play as a specialist batsman and allow understudy James Foster what is likely to be a rare opportunity during the tour behind the stumps, particularly as Michael Vaughan is also unlikely to feature while he recovers from knee surgery at the end of the season.

Glamorgan fast bowler Simon Jones is also doubtful having not fully recovered from a side strain injury but may be used in short bursts even though he is yet to bowl at full capacity since his arrival in Perth.

England (from): N Hussain (Essex, capt), ME Trescothick (Somerset), MA Butcher (Surrey), JP Crawley (Hampshire), RWT Key (Kent), AJ Stewart (Surrey), AF Giles (Warwickshire), RKJ Dawson (Yorkshire), AR Caddick (Somerset), MJ Hoggard (Yorkshire), SJ Harmison (Durham), SP Jones (Glamorgan), JS Foster (Essex).

ACB Chairman's XI (from): MEK Hussey (capt), RJ Campbell (wkt), SW Meuleman, MJ North, K Hughes, D Hookes, GB Hogg, KM Harvey, MJ Nicholson, C Thorp, P Wilson, MW Clark, W Clark.