Andrew Flintoff says he is carrying no mental scars from his last Ashes series into this summer's battles with Ricky Ponting's side and is determined to make up for lost time after his injury setbacks.
The larger-than-life all-rounder was captain when England was demolished 5-0 during the 2006-2007 series Down Under - a sharp contrast to the euphoria of the 2-1 home triumph in 2005.
But Flintoff is looking forward rather than back and is hoping England's three-day friendly with Warwickshire at Edgbaston this week will hone his sharpness after his return from a knee problem which emerged when in IPL action.
"The last Ashes was the low point of my career. You experience the euphoria of 2005 and then the disappointments of 2006-2007. Probably the last series emotionally was the stronger of the two," Flintoff said.
"But all that is behind us. We have got a very new team and, rather than dining out on 2005 or dwelling on 2006-2007, it is all about what happens over the next six weeks."
"Of course, it was tough for a while after losing 5-0 but it has long gone now and a lot of things have happened in my life since 2006-2007."
"As for any mental scars, I wouldn't say there are a great deal there. I am just looking forward to playing. The one thing for me is when you play, have confidence, but more importantly enjoying it. Going into this series, I am going to enjoy playing."
"A lot of the lads weren't involved in 2006-2007 but, going into an Ashes series, you don't need any extra incentive. It is the biggest thing for an Englishman to play in. I don't need any extra incentive. I just want to perform."
Flintoff is keen for an elongated spell of action and says a belief he could be the force he was in 2005 has driven him on through his spells of rehabilitation.
"From my point of view, through all the injuries I had, if I didn't think I could come back and play the cricket I played in the past or be better, I don't think I would have done it," he said.
"You miss England more as you get older. When you have missed as much cricket as me, of course you do. I've had something like two years rehab since 2005 and it has been tough."
"The reason you do is to put back on that England shirt to get the chance to play in an Ashes series."
"I'm not far away from that now but, as you get older, you don't want to miss much cricket because you don't know how much you've got in you."
Flintoff believes he is on target to be firing on all cylinders for the opening Test at Cardiff which begins on July 8.
"For the past eight weeks since the knee operation, I've been working hard. Hopefully that is all behind me now. I'll just keep maintaining my fitness and looking after my knee as well as my ankle," he said.
"I've played three weeks for Lancashire, bowled my overs, managed to score a few runs, and I'm pleased where I am at this stage."
"This game with Warwickshire is the final piece of the preparation for the team and also for myself."
"I've played two championship games and three Twenty20s and so this last game is vitally important, for form and also to bowl some overs and to get some more runs."
Flintoff is the only survivor from the 2005 Ashes attack which also included Steve Harmison, Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard and Ashley Giles but he has confidence in the current crop of bowlers.
"We have got competition for bowlers. You see the way Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad have forged this new ball partnership and have done fantastically well," he said.
"Jimmy Anderson as a bowler has always been skilful, and had all the tools, but now he looks like he has learnt how to use them. He is dangerous."
"Broady gets better all the time and, for the position of the next seamer, Graham Onions has improved out of sight and Ryan Sidebottom is bowling quick again and myself. It is exciting."
"There is competition for places within the squad and we have not even mentioned Steve Harmison who is knocking everybody over. It is going to make for a strong team."
