Mark Wood has yet to play at Lord's, but is confident his radar will work if he gets his chance in the first Investec Test against New Zealand.
Wood has heard all the tales of pace bowlers put off their stride, and direction, by the famous slope at HQ.
But the 25-year-old from Durham has been listening too to prospective England team-mates Stuart Broad and James Anderson - and they have reassured him that, even at Lord's, the "stumps do not move".
Wood will take that nugget on to the pitch with him if his opportunity comes this week.
It is just the sort of pithy advice to appeal to a cricketer who has already made a name for himself not just with his wickets, but a touch of eccentricity - such as his habit of geeing himself up in the field, between spells, by imitating a jousting horse.
That subject was not revisited at Wood's pre-match press conference, when he instead addressed the hazards of the slope and his determination not to be sidetracked.
"The stumps don't move," he said.
"I'm going to run in, try to bowl with good pace and see if I can knock the Kiwis over if I do play.
"The slope is the big issue here - everyone knows that - but having spoken to Jimmy and Broady, they say the stumps don't move."
Wood believes he can bring "something a little bit different" to England's attack, if he gets the nod ahead of Chris Jordan on Thursday.
"I'm not as tall as the other bowlers, and a bit more skiddy," he added.
"Maybe I can bring a different dimension to the attack and a bit of enthusiasm around the dressing room, which is what I'll be trying to do."
There was no debut for him in England's three Tests in the Caribbean, but he is convinced he has benefited significantly from a tour that ended in a 1-1 drawn series last month.
"I'm very comfortable around the dressing room now," he said.
"Going in, you're obviously nervous - some big names in there, people you haven't met before."
Wood has also tapped into the experience of Steve Harmison and Graham Onions, both of Durham and England in recent times.
Harmison is a family friend and gave Wood some welcome advice before he flew to the Windies.
"Harmy is from my home town, and I speak to him regularly," Wood said.
"He just said, 'go and enjoy yourself, express yourself'.
"As someone who was a bit homesick, nervous, it was quite good for him to say, 'just enjoy yourself'.
"'Bunny said, 'take it all in and soak it up', especially if I play this week. That's what I'll try to do."
It is Harmison, though, and his part in England's famous 2005 Ashes series win, which has most inspired him.
"I looked up to him massively," he added.
"His uncle and my dad were best friends growing up, so he used to come round the local cricket club and I'd be a bit in awe - 'that's Harmy, do I go and speak to him?'
"2005 was probably the greatest Test series I've ever watched, so to see someone that I know play and do well was great to see.
"He's someone I looked up to then and I still look up to now for advice and pick his brains a little bit."
England's pace attack will do well to edge the game within a game against New Zealand's Tim Southee, Trent Boult et al.
Southee said: "As far as New Zealand bowling goes, the group we have here - and the few guys who aren't - is a strong as it's been for as long as I can remember.
"They are all quality bowlers with different strengths. It's a bit of a shoot-out, but that's a great problem."
Source: PA
