England v Warwickshire
Venue: Edgbaston Date: Wednesday, 1 July Start: 1100 BST
Coverage: Live scorecard and match report on the BBC Sport website
I'm in shape for Ashes - Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff has declared himself fit for the Ashes series against Australia after his knee injury.
The all-rounder has not played international cricket since April but is set to feature in England's friendly against Warwickshire this week.
"This game with Warwickshire is the final piece of the preparation for the team and for myself," said Flintoff.
"This last game is vitally important, for form and also to bowl some overs and to get some more runs."
Flintoff was England's star man when they won the Ashes on home soil in 2005.
Injury problems have frequently hampered him since then, but the Lancashire all-rounder is hopeful he can rediscover his best form.
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The last Ashes was the low point of my career
Andrew Flintoff
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He said: "Through all the injuries I had, if I didn't think I could come back and play the cricket I played in the past or be better, I don't think I would have done it.
"You miss England more as you get older. When you have missed as much cricket as me, of course you do. I've had something like two years rehab since 2005 and it has been tough.
"The reason you do is to put back on that England shirt to get the chance to play in an Ashes series.
"I'm not far away from that now but, as you get older, you don't want to miss much cricket because you don't know how much you've got in you."
Flintoff is also looking to atone for a disastrous Ashes series in Australia two years ago, when he captained England as they were demolished 5-0.
"The last Ashes was the low point of my career," he admitted.
"You experience the euphoria of 2005 and then the disappointments of 2006-2007. Probably the last series emotionally was the stronger of the two.
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606: DEBATE
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"But all that is behind us. We have got a very new team and, rather than dining out on 2005 or dwelling on 2006-2007, it is all about what happens over the next six weeks.
"As for any mental scars, I wouldn't say there are a great deal there. I am just looking forward to playing."
England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who has been nursing an Achilles injury, is also upbeat about his fitness, as well as England's prospects.
Australia are the strong favourites, but Pietersen believes they will have problems dealing with England's reverse-swing bowling.
Pietersen insisted: "We're going to be really tough to play against.
"If batters do conquer our reverse-swing, I look forward to watching them.
"It will take some serious batting against those bowlers, all at 90mph reverse-swinging it both ways."
But despite his confidence Pietersen admitted "the Australians are a fantastic side".
"Their last series was in South Africa and they won. That's not easy to do," he added.
"But our side has improved a lot, and we are going to be a force to be reckoned with."
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