Stand up and be counted, warns Sven
And while he called on Norwegian referee Terje Hauge to be "clever" in adopting the sort of laissez-faire attitude used in the Premiership, he cautioned his players not to lose their cool.
Eriksson is bracing his side for a physical onslaught from the Welsh during the early stages, but believes that they are up to the challenge.
He said: "I suppose England are the big brothers and you always want to beat the big brothers.
"I don't mean to say that England are much better than Wales but it's like that if you look at the populations and the size of the two countries.
"It's a derby. We might be the favourites on paper but then the other team always wants to beat you. Mark Hughes might be right, the first 20 minutes are going to be very important. I really hope we are up for it as much as Wales are up for it.
"If we're not, the risk is extremely big that we will not win the game."
He added: "we have to stand up there and, if there is a tackle to be made, we have to make it. Otherwise, not even the best 11 players in the world will not win football games.
"To win tackles and second balls, and to be first to the ball, is as important in football as being individually a good player these days."
While Eriksson may use three forwards, with Wayne Rooney in an attacking midfield role, he will be looking for Frank Lampard, David Beckham and Nicky Butt to compete hard in the centre of the pitch.
Beckham is nevertheless one of two England players - the other being Michael Owen - who are one booking away from being suspended for next Wednesday's qualifier in Azerbaijan. "There will be a lot of passion out there from both sides," noted Eriksson.
"It's very important we stand up and are professional, and that we keep 11 players on the pitch for 90 minutes. We must keep our heads as calm as possible.
"Of course, I hope the referee will handle the match in a clever way, not blowing his whistle for everything.
"That's what you always hope from a referee - not to destroy the game but to let it go unless someone makes a bad tackle."
Ironically, Sweden's most intense international rivalry is with Norway, although Eriksson admits that is still nothing compared to the Home Nations' encounters.
England have not met Wales for 20 years, when Hughes scored the winner for the supposed "little brothers."
Eriksson will be hoping to avoid a similarly painful experience of sibling rivalry this time around.
Even so, Frank Lampard is backing England's three-pronged attack to put the frighteners on Wales.
"People maybe criticise us for not attacking enough but those three (Rooney, Owen, Defoe) will be a massive threat to anyone with their ability and pace. Rooney can drop off the strikers or strikers and has that natural ability of coming and receiving the ball and playing clever balls through to people or running at them himself.
"Whether you play one up, with Wayne playing off him or two, it will be dangerous. All three have pace and ability and, when you're playing against them, you'll be worried, especially with their movement.
"If they do play together they will just want to go out there and create and score goals. That will be great for English fans."
Lampard is aware England have to counter Wales' own potent attacking weapon in John Hartson whom he knows first-hand, along with Rio Ferdinand, from their days at West Ham.
He said: "John will be a big threat. Rio and I know him well.
"He is very powerful and strong, great in the air and very good with his feet. He's scored goals wherever he has been.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
