Matt Prior believes England's "contagious" team spirit will help them continue to prove a match for the best in the world.

Prior, one of four South Africa-born players in the touring squad, discounts any potential sense of division on that score as he and others return to their native country this winter.

As the wicketkeeper-batsman prepares to play his part in England's bid to convert an unbeatable 2-1 one-day international series lead over their hosts into outright victory in the final match at Kingsmead on Friday, he also addressed two other pressing issues.

First of all, he will not contemplate the idea of playing to hang on to his ODI place ahead of prospective challengers - such as his fellow native South African Craig Kieswetter.

Prior also cast an eye back to his beloved Sussex and their attempts to keep Rory Hamilton-Brown from the clutches of Chris Adams' Surrey.

Top of the agenda, though, is England and the evolution of their team ethos under coach Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss.

In that context, Prior insists the question of South African roots in the squad is an irrelevance.

"Every bloke in that England changing room wants to play for England and is passionate about it," he believes.

"As long as I look around the changing room and the bloke next to me wants to win for England, I don't care where he was born or brought up."

Twenty-seven-year-old Prior, who made his ODI debut five years ago, senses a new England - albeit bereft, temporarily at least, of the talents of injured all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.

"I think the big difference now is the far more important thing is playing for your team-mate and wanting to get over the line for your team," he said.

"That change of attitude is so healthy.

"When guys have success you see genuine elation in the changing room.

"That's brilliant. You can't fake that. It's a genuine thing; it's contagious - and it makes it a very powerful team."

As for the perceived threat to his place from such as Somerset's Kieswetter, Prior simply does not think like that.

"You've got to keep things simple. You can't worry and fret about other people," he explains.

"If I play well, work hard and perform then I'm sure I'll play for England.

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"If I don't, then someone else will have to come in and perform. There are a number of good players in England that can come in and do the job.

"But it's up to me to make sure I don't give them that chance and that people don't want to look elsewhere."

The Hamilton-Brown issue, meanwhile, has been stirring emotions several thousand miles north at Hove - and it is clear Prior's heart is always pretty close to the south coast of England.

"I would like to see Rory stay at Sussex, because he's a very talented cricketer," he said.

"But at Sussex, I want to see players passionate about playing for Sussex.

"If in their heart of hearts they are 100% about playing for Sussex and wanting Sussex to get back in the first division and carry on the legacy we've created over the last nine years, I want every player like that to stay at Sussex.

"If in the bottom of their hearts they want to go and live in London and play for Surrey, that is a decision they've got to make."

Prior is intrigued by the added complication of young all-rounder Hamilton-Brown apparently being head-hunted by former Sussex captain Adams, in his new guise as Surrey chief, to lead the Londoners.

"The way it's been done is probably not quite right - but only 'Griz' [Adams] will know that, and the way he has gone about it.

"'Griz' knows what we've had at Sussex - and obviously was a massive part of it - and he wants to try and recreate that at Surrey.

"I don't think that will ever be possible, but he has to go his own way about it."

Hamilton-Brown, who began his career at The Oval, will be accepting a huge job if he heads north again - according to Prior.

"That will be a massive responsibility for him to go to a club like Surrey," he said.

"With the big egos and big personalities there - a 22-year-old captaining Mark Ramprakash - that's going to be hard work.

"It's going to be hard work for anyone, let alone a guy who has just played a handful of championship games.

"If he wants to take on that responsibility, good luck to him. It's a massive ask."