 Johnson saw his side beat the Pacific Islanders in his first game in charge
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Martin Johnson faces his first big Test as England boss on Saturday as Australia arrive at Twickenham.
The last time the two teams met was the 2007 World Cup quarter-final, when a dominant display from the England pack helped them to a 12-10 win.
"There is a difference this week," said Johnson. "The players are very aware the pace and intensity will increase.
"We are testing ourselves against one of the top three teams. You find out what you are about when you play them."
Johnson, who makes two changes to the side that defeated the Pacific Islanders last week - bringing in Phil Vickery and Tom Palmer, says he hopes to turn Twickenham into a fortress once again.
England have won just over 40% of their home internationals since Johnson retired as captain after lifting the World Cup in 2003 but before that triumph, they had beaten all-comers on a run of 22 straight wins at Twickenham dating back to the 1999 World Cup.
"Being an English rugby player, people generally want to beat you," added Johnson. "There is a lot of history there and people want to win at Twickenham.
"It always gives them an edge - but you have to turn that around. You can be tactically smart but the great thing about rugby is that it is about passion and emotion.
"We have got to affect the crowd and get them on their feet. We have got to lift them, not the other way around."
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RECENT MEETINGS
Oct 07 (WC): Aus 10-12 Eng
Jun 06: Aus 43-18 Eng
Jun 06: Aus 34-3 Eng
Nov 05: Eng 26-16 Aus
Nov 04: Eng 19-21 Aus
Jun 04: Aus 51-15 Eng
Nov 03 (WC): Aus 17-20 Eng
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However, the Wallabies field 14 of the 15 players who lost 19-14 to New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong two weeks ago.
Vickery and fellow prop Andrew Sheridan were part of the England front row which demolished Australia at Twickenham in 2005 and repeated the feat in a gripping encounter in the last World Cup.
Australia went into the match in Marseille as firm favourites but their inability to cope in the scrums and at the breakdown cost them dear.
Hooker Stephen Moore had Matt Dunning and Guy Shepherdson propping either side of him that day.
Shepherdson has not played Test rugby since, but Dunning is on the Wallabies bench on Saturday and Al Baxter, who suffered against Sheridan in 2005, again starts at tight-head at Twickenham.
England have been keen to play down suggestions they will once again enjoy superiority in that department, although the recall of Vickery in place of Matt Stevens looks designed to play on Australian minds.
"I think it is quite clear Australia have improved immeasurably," said England captain Steve Borthwick, who described Australia as "up there with the best teams in the world".
"Their pack is strong and they have shown that by winning away in South Africa and beating New Zealand," added the Saracens lock.
England forwards coach John Wells said he expected "an all-out battle".
"Australia are aware of what put them under pressure in the World Cup quarter-final. They are a more physical team now and they have worked on their scrummage," added Wells.
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606: DEBATE
Justin 150
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Australia field six of their losing side, in Adam Ashley-Cooper, Stirling Mortlock, Giteau, Smith, Moore and Nathan Sharpe, but have appointed a new coach in New Zealander Robbie Deans since their World Cup exit.
England's back three showed glimpses of their attacking threat in the 39-13 win over the Pacific Islanders last weekend and they look set to play with more width than they did in Marseille.
Fly-half Danny Cipriani, who is back from long-term injury and has only just turned 21, had an indifferent game last weekend.
But he will be integral to any attempt by England to play with more pace and width and his opposite number on Saturday, Western Force star Giteau, was complimentary ahead of their clash.
"He's obviously got a very good kicking game, he directs play very well and he's an elusive runner who can pass the ball very well on both sides," said Giteau, who made his debut for the Wallabies aged 20 at Twickenham in 2002.
"They've got a new backline and they look like they love to attack so that's something we need to be wary of."
England: D Armitage (London Irish); P Sackey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), R Flutey (Wasps), U Monye (Harlequins); D Cipriani (Wasps), D Care (Harlequins); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), L Mears (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), T Palmer (Wasps), T Croft (Leicester), T Rees (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins).
Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), M Stevens (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps), J Haskell (Wasps), M Lipman (Bath), H Ellis (Leicester), T Flood (Leicester).
Australia: A Ashley-Cooper (ACT Brumbies); P Hynes (Queensland Reds), R Cross (Western Force), S Mortlock (ACT Brumbies, capt), D Mitchell (Western Force); M Giteau (Western Force), L Burgess (NSW Waratahs); B Robinson (NSW Waratahs), S Moore (Queensland Reds), A Baxter (NSW Waratahs), M Chisholm (ACT Brumbies), N Sharpe (Western Force), H McMeniman (Queensland Reds), G Smith (ACT Brumbies), R Brown (Western Force).
Replacements: T Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs), M Dunning (NSW Waratahs), D Mumm (NSW Waratahs), W Palu (NSW Waratahs), S Cordingley (Queensland Reds), Q Cooper (Queensland Reds), D Ioane (Queensland Reds).
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