Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is looking to the leadership of Liverpool ace Steven Gerrard ahead of England's World Cup qualifying double-header.
Rooney believes Gerrard's influence will be equally significant off the field.
For Roy Hodgson's squad contains a large number of younger players, who could easily be overwhelmed at the task facing them, namely collecting victories against Montenegro - something England have not managed in three previous encounters - and Poland to secure a place at next summer's World Cup Finals.
"We will need the experienced players," said Rooney.
"Obviously there are more younger players in the squad than there has ever been.
"The experienced players have been there and done it.
"They can keep that calmness for us.
"It is a tense situation. There are a lot of nerves and sometimes you can hear that through the crowd as well.
"It is going to be really important that our experienced players help us in those games."
