If Fabio Capello doesn't already have Martin O'Neill's number on speed dial, it's safe to assume the England coach will be re-programming his phone soon.

Aston Villa manager O'Neill, meanwhile, should start preparing to field Saturday evening calls from the Italian checking on the clutch of England internationals helping drive Villa's challenge to break up the established order of the top four.

The fortunes of the midlands club and the national team are becoming increasingly intertwined with six contenders for a place in Capello's World Cup squad forming the core of O'Neill's side and the Irishman is understandably satisfied with the arrangement.

Stewart Downing, Ashley Young and James Milner are conducting their own three-way battle to secure a midfield slot for both club and country.

Emile Heskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor figure on Capello's short-list of strikers, with Heskey currently favourite to claim the starting place alongside Wayne Rooney while Agbonlahor's lightening pace makes him a contender for a back-up spot.

Left back Stephen Warnock, meanwhile, is making a convincing case to go to South Africa ahead of Manchester City's Wayne Bridge and fill the role of deputy to Ashley Cole.

It's the ideal situation for O'Neill who doesn't have to do much more that sit back and let the incentive of a trip to the World Cup finals help maintain his players' level of performance between now and the end of the domestic campaign.

The situation certainly seemed to work in Villa's favour against Manchester United last weekend when O'Neill's side conjured a first victory at Old Trafford since 1983 and moved up to third place before dropping to fourth after Arsenal's win at Liverpool.

"We have some players here who are England hopefuls," said O'Neill after his side's win. "This James Milner's third game starting in centre midfield and he has been fantastic for us.

"Stewart Downing had had three games in quick succession and will be a good player for us when fully fit.We also have Gaby and Emile Heskey, players who are desperate to be on a flight to South Africa to be in the squad which is one of the favourites to win the World Cup.

"I want them propelled on by that ambition for our benefit. I am being quite selfish about that. If they continue to play like that, there is opportunity there for Fabio Capello if he is having second thoughts about things."

Heskey, Milner and Downing are the players most likely to make the trip, although the other three are by no means rank outsiders. And, their cause will be assisted by the opportunity to show how they can work as part of a unit alongside their club team-mates.

Young, for example, appears to have fallen down the England pecking order this season but since Downing's return to action following a broken foot, the pair, together with Milner, have already demonstrated an impressive ability to switch positions and add variety to Villa's attacking play.

That means Capello gets the chance to examine combinations and formations he might only otherwise see only fleetingly during the limited training sessions he gets with his squad.

The flip side, of course, is that if Villa have a serious dip in form, then a number of Capello's possibles could be afflicted by a collective loss of form and confidence.

At the moment, though, there's not much sign of that happening.