Ashes 2013: England not relying on weather to beat Australia
Ground staff clear water from the wicket after heavy overnight rain during the fifth day of the third Ashes cricket test match between England and Australia
Prior was the hero of England's most recent display of backs-to-the-wall defiance, with an unbeaten century at Auckland in March this year to salvage a draw against New Zealand with nine wickets down and a 0-0 series stalemate.
This time, he said: "One ball at a time. You can't look too far ahead."
He is well aware of but pinning no hopes on the likelihood of more poor weather, after bad light controversially interrupted yesterday - taking out 32 minutes, despite the use of floodlights - and then rain moved in to wipe out 32 overs in all.
"If it did then great," said Prior.
"But it was meant to start raining at one o'clock today, and it didn't.
"Forecasts in England are pretty good at being wrong. It would be very dangerous for us to rely on rain.
"We have to steel ourselves and prepare...as though we are going to play a full day's Test cricket.
"We know what is at the end of the line."
Alastair Cook's England, he insists, are well-equipped to make sure of their own destiny - whatever the elements.
"The one thing about this team is we have become tough to beat.
"We have unfortunately been in this position a few times in the recent past.
"We'll have a lot of confidence...that we can save the day."
Australia batsman David Warner revealed his frustration at what he perceived to be delaying tactics by England's bowlers.
England's over-rate dropped to 12.2 yesterday afternoon - it was 13 in the first innings - and captain Alastair Cook could face action from the International Cricket Council for dropping below the 15-overs-per-hour threshold.
Several newspapers have quoted Warner as saying: "The captain suffers from that (slow over-rates).
"He'll miss a game if he's time-wasting or if the overs aren't bowled in the time allocated.
"That will come back to bite them (England) on the bum."
Warner was suspended by Cricket Australia and subsequently missed the first two Investec Tests after aiming a punch at Joe Root in a Birmingham bar after Australia lost to the hosts in the Champions Trophy two months ago.
The combative left-hander, whose 41 in Australia's second innings was ended by a Root catch in the deep, was untroubled by light-hearted abuse from the crowd - and expects more.
"I actually liked the trumpeter playing the Rocky theme song," he said. "It was actually entertaining for me, and I had a little chuckle.
"Obviously it was all my fault. I just have to keep embracing it.
"I've got to keep my head down and focus on what my task ahead is - and that's scoring runs.
"It's not every day you walk out on the field and get booed, but you've got to embrace it...your job is ahead of you and that's all you can concentrate on."
