World Cup upstarts Tonga are back to full strength for a match against defending champions England they proudly declare will be the biggest moment in their tiny island's sporting history.

Tonga have recalled flanker Hale T-Pole for the match in Paris (5am AEST Saturday).

T-Pole missed Tonga's last Pool A match against South Africa after he was banned for one week for striking an opponent in his team's win over Samoa but was rushed straight back in at the expense of 'Emosi Kauhenga.

Lock Lisiate Fa'aoso was also recalled in the only other change to the starting line-up after Paino Hehea fractured his shoulder in his team's narrow 30-25 loss to the Springboks.

Tongan captain Niki Latu was also cleared to lead the team despite tweaking a hamstring last week, saying there was no way he would miss the match.

"It's the biggest game in our history," he told reporters at training.

"We have a great chance of getting into the quarter-finals.

"We don't want to be going home next week. England is a one-off match and the losers won't get another chance to put it right."

Tonga, a tiny South Pacific Island kingdom with a population just over 100,000, only made it to the World Cup by winning one of the two repechage places, but have been one of the great success stories of the tournament.

They beat the United States and their neighbours Samoa in the space of four days then almost pulled off a massive upset against South Africa.

"We've got the best team we've ever had and have done really well. We haven't got the greatest facilities or equipment in Tonga, but we've shown here that you don't always need that," Latu said.

"We're a tight group and we respect each other. And we're not playing just for us, we're playing for the people of Tonga.

"People underestimated us but we believed we were good enough to get to the quarter-finals. We're one step away from that now."

Tonga were beaten 101-10 when they last played England at the 1999 World Cup but have improved enormously since then and are hoping to draw inspiration from their stunning upset win over Australia in 1973, which still ranks as the country's finest sporting moment.

"We had a big moment in 1973 but no one was around," inside centre Epeli Taione joked.

"This is going to be our biggest moment, for all Tongan sporting history.

"I know that everyone will be cheering for us, Scotland, Wales, every country ... even Iraq.

"It's just a massive game, we've got nothing to lose so we're going to give it our best shot."

Tonga: 15-Vunga Lilo, 14-Tevita Tu'ifua, 13-Suka Hufanga, 12-Epeli Taione, 11-Sefa Vaka, 10-Pierre Hola, 9-Sione Mone Tu'ipulotu, 8-Finau Maka, 7-Nili Latu (captain), 6-Hale T-Pole, 5-Lisiate Fa'aoso, 4-Viliami Vaki, 3-Kisi Pulu, 2-Aleki Lutui, 1-Soane Tonga'uiha. Reserves: 16-Ephraim Taukafa, 17-Taufa'ao Filise, 18-Maama Molitika, 19-Inoke Afeaki, 20-Soane Havea, 21-Huson Tonga'uiha, 22-Aisea Havili.