As the England manager already knew who their World Cup opponents would be when he was appointed as Steve McClaren's successor, the festivities in Warsaw represent his first experience of a qualifying draw with the national team.

Given the improvement made by the Three Lions under Capello, they are expected to claim one of the nine automatic spots reserved for the group winners.

The safety net of a play-off if England finish group runners-up, or even one direct route to Poland and Ukraine for the best second-placed team, should ensure qualification for a side which famously failed to make the last tournament.

Few will forget how England managed to concede a late winner at home against a Croatia team that had already qualified after the hosts had battled back from two goals down to pull level at Wembley.

That kind of ineptitude has to be worked at, and England have not really had any practice under Capello.

Instead, it is what happens with Pots Four and Three in Warsaw that will hold most interest until England's name is drawn out of Pot One at the end.

Wales, the weakest of the home nations, will be first to appear followed by Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, who are now so close to each other in the official rankings a blanket could be thrown over them.

England faced the first two in the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign - Northern Ireland recording a famous win in Belfast - while memories of the abandoned meeting with the Republic in Dublin over a decade earlier amid violent scenes that brought disgrace to the English game have not quite faded away, so it is to Scotland Capello will look for the most appetising draw.

Capello was nearly pitched into the world's oldest international fixture a couple of months after taking charge, only for the Scots to step away from a planned friendly when it became apparent their Old Firm players would not be released.

At 63, Capello has experienced most things in the game, but there is something unique about a clash with Scotland which is why he would be happy to have one.

"I have no problem playing any of the home countries," said Capello. "Wales have good young players coming through and I would certainly be happy to play Scotland because it would be a derby game.

"It's okay for me. Let's play."

Capello hopes to have a number of younger players in his squad by then. Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere, Jack Rodwell and Manchester City new-boy Adam Johnson were all name checked by the Italian as being capable of making that step up to full international honours.

Last week brought movement for Wilshere and Johnson, with the former leaving Arsenal for a short spell to join Bolton, where Owen Coyle is implementing his own passing brand of football.

Capello will be delighted with that move, however of more concern may be the switch of 22-year-old Johnson from Middlesbrough.

The Italian boss clearly rates the winger highly, but a problem is looming.

"All these players have to play," Capello said. "Training alone is not enough.

"This year Joe Hart has improved a lot because he plays. Before he made mistakes. Now he makes fewer because he plays regularly and has more confidence.

"The same was true of Johnson at Middlesbrough. When Stewart Downing was there his chances were limited. But being in the Championship has been good for his development because he is playing all the time.

"Sometimes it is better for young players to play in the Championship all the time rather than one game in the Champions League every now and then."

Beyond a home nation to get the fans excited and reduce the number of long trips, Capello does not have any great desire for tomorrow's draw.

His expected contenders for the trophy - Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Holland - will all be avoided as fellow top seeds, but given a preference he would prefer to be in one of the three groups devoid of a sixth team.

"We could be playing eight or 10 games," he reflected. "I would prefer to play eight."