Paul Collingwood has warned Australia that attempts to expose any chinks in England's psychological armour will prove futile.

Engrained into their culture from an early age, Collingwood believes Australians are masters at sledging who pounce as soon as they detect any weakness.

Collingwood himself famously came off second best in a verbal clash with Shane Warne in 2007 after deciding to target the spin great on his final Test.

The move backfired spectacularly, however, as Warne was instrumental in Australia completing a 5-0 series whitewash.

Hosts ready to give it back

Fast forward two and a half years and Collingwood insists England will not succumb to 'mental disintegration' during their campaign to reclaim the Ashes.

"Sometimes they can really come hard at you as a team - usually when they sniff a moment where we have to get right on top," he said.

"Sometimes during the Adelaide Test in 2006 they had gone very quiet like any team when you get on top of them. It depends what the situation is.

"As a team England can stand up to sledging. If the opportunity comes around, if something needs to be said, then we'll back each other up.

"We won't go looking for it, we just want to perform well.

"Australia are very good at it. I played a lot of cricket out there as a youngster, initially in 1996, and they come hard at you.

"It's in their culture from a very early age. The youngsters do it. You feel that as a player, as an individual going out to bat in their country.

"It's very much a part of their culture but we have some strong characters who can deal with it should it come along."

Colly and Warne chemistry

Collingwood and Warne have continued to exchange verbal blows since - the now-retired Warne recently claimed England's World Twenty20 captain lacked imagination.

The enmity is genuine and Collingwood knows that Warne's position as a media pundit has left him exposed to further criticism over the coming weeks.

"Shane has gone but I'm sure there will be someone else for me," he said.

"In Sydney in 2007 we were just two players wanting to win games for their countries. But he's in the commentary box now so I can't really say too much."

Collingwood made an impressive start to the last Ashes series, hitting 96 in Brisbane and a double century in Adelaide.

"That was down to believing in myself. You have to go out there from ball one and give it a good go, especially against Australia," he said.

"We all know they are a very good side and you have to get your technique in place.

Mind games matter

"But it's the mental side against Australia that's the main thing and that's an area where it's going to be new for quite a lot of the players on both sides.

"It's a totally different series altogether with the media hype and atmosphere, so you need to get your head around the job in hand.

"We know when we played in Australia we didn't get a chance to breathe because the teams you play against are very strong."