Stuart Pearce feels his England Under-21s can rise to the challenge of playing at Wembley against Portugal U21s on Saturday (kick-off 12.30pm).

And Pearce would like nothing more than to see some of the squad go on to join the seniors at the World Cup next summer.

With Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone, 22, in line to make his England debut against Brazil in Doha on Saturday, Pearce has seen another of the young Lions make the step up to the full national team.

As well as Huddlestone, the likes of James Milner, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Aaron Lennon and goalkeeper Paul Hart were all involved the last time the U21s played at Wembley, also against Portugal as they secured a place in the European Championship play-offs, where they would go on to beat Wales and then reach the final in Sweden last summer, losing to Germany.

Pearce hopes the latest experiences at the famous venue - which is a sell-out at a reduced 30,000 capacity - can only stand his team in good stead, with Arsenal full-back Kieran Gibbs, Wolves' on-loan Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne and Manchester City's Micah Richards all still harbouring ambitions of making Fabio Capello's final World Cup squad.

"When we played at Wembley two years ago, the likes of Agbonlahor, Milner and Hart were all involved for us," Pearce said.

"They have all stepped up to play for the seniors and walk out at Wembley, they know what it is all about, the atmosphere does not faze them.

"It is all part of their learning process and that is what having this game at Wembley is all about."

Pearce - who played in the 1990 World Cup semi-final against Germany, missing a penalty in the shoot-out - added: "If we can get players through who have had a rounded education, like Huddlestone and Milner, who played a lot of football at Under-21 level before the seniors, then that is just what we are trying to achieve.

"Nothing would please me more than to have maybe four or five Under-21 players from last summer being on that plane to South Africa.

"Form will dictate that, but the one thing you can guarantee is the boys who have come through the Under-21 system will know just what a big tournament will be all about, and ready for it."

Pearce has seen his preparations for Saturday's match - where victory would move another step closer to qualification from Group G - hit by injuries.

Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson pulled out after being called up for the first time since recovering from a long-term abdominal problem, while Arsenal duo Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere were not match fit.

Jack Rodwell and Danny Welbeck also withdrew, which meant Everton's Dan Gosling and Henri Lansbury, who is on loan at Watford from Arsenal, were brought in.

On Thursday, West Ham pair James Tomkins and Junior Stanislas were replaced by uncapped Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark, 20, and 19-year-old Kyle Walker, on loan at Sheffield United from Spurs.

"We focus on the 21 players who are here and fully fit," he said.

"We can't do much about injuries and just get on with what we have available to us - and that is a very good squad.

"They are all vying for places with a good spirit among them."

Pearce added: "We feel Portugal will rise to the challenge of playing at Wembley and will give us a really good test.

"We have both dropped points in this group and know that if we win tomorrow, then it will be really difficult for Portugal to qualify."