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England head coach John Mitchell said his players are ready to 'hunt' down a French side he expects to be galvanised by the biting storm that has engulfed them.
The two teams meet in a crunch Women's World Cup semi-final at Ashton Gate on Saturday with the Red Roses now just two wins away from global glory on home soil.
On a world record run of 31 unbeaten matches, England are firm favourites to lift the trophy with their next opponents a team mired in controversy.
France have lost back-row Axelle Berthoumieu to a nine-match ban after she was found to have bitten Ireland's Aoife Wafer in their quarter-final clash last Sunday.
Second row and co-captain Manae Feleu will also be absent for Les Bleus in Bristol after having her appeal against a ban for dangerous tackling rejected.
'France have faced challenges and that will drive them,' said Mitchell after naming his strongest possible side for the last-four.
England coach John Mitchell has said his team will 'hunt' France in the World Cup semi-finals
Mitchell (left) has named his strongest possible side for France including captain Zoe Aldcroft
Ellie Kildunne has recovered from concussion to take her place in the England side for France
ENGLAND TEAM NEWS
England team for Women's World Cup semi-final with France (3.30pm Ashton Gate):
Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Zoe Harrison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne, Maud Muir, Morwenna Talling, Abbie Ward, Zoe Aldcroft (capt), Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews
Replacements: Lark Atkin-Davies, Kelsey Clifford, Sarah Bern, Rosie Galligan, Maddie Feaunati, Lucy Packer, Holly Aitchison, Helena Rowland
'We expect it. We don't need to be perfect – just effective, focused and ready for the fight. We're excited and ready to hunt them.'
England have put USA, Samoa, Australia and Scotland to the sword to reach the semi-finals and have yet to be tested fully. France will be their toughest challenge yet.
But the return of first-choice stars Ellie Kildunne and Hannah Botterman after they missed the last-eight win over Scotland means England will be firing on all cylinders.
Full-back Kildunne and prop Botterman have recovered from concussion and a back injury respectively.
They are two of four changes made by Mitchell from the team for Scotland.
Lock Abbie Ward and No 10 Zoe Harrison are the others to come back into the starting line-up.
Mitchell said: 'Ashton Gate set the stage for a strong performance in tough conditions last weekend and the girls are eager to get back out there for the semi-final.
'We've earned this stage and now we've got another chance to earn the right.
'Our game is working and is the right way. By working together we'll keep getting better.'
New Zealand – the last team to beat England in the final of the 2022 World Cup – face Canada tonight (FRI) in the other semi-final.
