Central-midfield pairing Michael Carrick and Frank Lampard will have the chance to put the disappointment of their performances in the 0-0 draw against Macedonia on Saturday behind them.
And manager Steve McClaren insists it is not a gamble for him to switch from his favoured 4-4-2 line-up as his side look to equal a 40-year-old record with a seventh-successive clean sheet.
We're missing four of our midfield players. We have to deal with that and we're looking at different ways of doing so Steve McClaren
"We've got to change," he said. "We've got to look at different systems and we've got to look at the make-up of the team.
"If we play three at the back, those players we'll be putting in there have played it before.
"There are all kinds of systems in the Premier League and I've been involved. We used to change systems out of necessity, because of injuries, because of opponents.
"To go to the next level we have to look at these situations. To go through the barrier we might try one or two things.
With Gerrard, Owen Hargreaves, Joe Cole and Aaron Lennon all missing from the tie, McClaren admitted his hand had been forced in changing the make-up of the side for the game in Zagreb.
He said: "When you include Lennon, who is an impact player, we're missing four of our midfield players.
"We have to deal with that and we're looking at different ways of doing so.
"Now we've done the work and I am pleased with the reaction of the players."
England (probable): Robinson; Carragher, Ferdinand, Terry; A Cole, Carrick, Parker, Lampard, Neville; Rooney, Crouch.
Croatia (probable): Pletikosa; Simunic, R Kovac, Simic, Corluka; Kranjcar, N Kovac, Modric, Rapaic; Da Silva, Petric.
