Sven-Goran Eriksson will reveal his World Cup plans today in the friendly against Hungary.
Eriksson says he will start with the team he expects to play against Paraguay, on June 10.
Top-scorer Owen needed a scan on a tight thigh muscle after training yesterday but looks set to start.
The England boss seems determined to play with only one recognised striker against the Hungarians.
He will pack a five-man midfield but could spring a surprise by including Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher as a midfield anchorman rather than Michael Carrick.
Eriksson seems to have decided his defensive midfielder must be a ball-winner and is not convinced Carrick can do that job.
With Ledley King injured, he tried Carragher in the role in the closing stages of last week's B international against Belarus.
The England manager looks set to make a U-turn on his 4-4-2 system, less than a month after admitting he would pair Peter Crouch with Owen in attack against the Paraguayans.
Ahead of the Hungary game, Eriksson said: "When we start tomorrow it will be the team we think might start against Paraguay.
"We could start with Crouch and Owen and we could start in another way as well."
Asked if he was planning to look at alternatives up front in this week's friendlies, he said: "Yes."
This is a serious change from May 8, when Eriksson said: "If I had to do it today I think I would start with Peter Crouch and Michael Owen if he is match-fit.
"That would be the natural choice and playing the four best midfielders."
Eriksson appears to have changed his mind, using evidence accumulated from two weeks of training and the B team defeat to Belarus last week, when Owen and Crouch started up front.
