Johnson pushed the announcement of his starting lineup back a day on Tuesday before trimming his squad by letting 10 players return to their clubs.
Mathew Tait, Joe Worsley, Ben Kay and George Chuter, all of whom were in the squad for the 2007 World Cup final, were cut for the first of this month's three matches at Twickenham despite Johnson being without almost an entire team of experienced players.
World Cup-winning center Mike Tindall and uncapped lock Richard Blaze were the latest players to withdraw, leaving Johnson likely to field Matt Banahan and Mark Cueto on the wings and move Ugo Monye to fullback.
Tindall limped out of Gloucester's game last week with a hamstring injury and Blaze is carrying a foot problem.
The pair join Phil Vickery, Lee Mears, Andrew Sheridan, Julian White, Nick Easter, Delon Armitage, Harry Ellis, Toby Flood, Riki Flutey, Olly Morgan, Tom Rees, and Simon Shaw on the sidelines.
Johnson can at least call upon captain Steve Borthwick to lead from the second row and Jonny Wilkinson to orchestrate play from No. 10 after the flyhalf started the season strongly at Toulouse.
Wilkinson has yet to play for Johnson, his captain during the spell that included the 2003 World Cup title.
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England squad:
Forwards: Duncan Bell, Steve Borthwick, Jordan Crane, Tom Croft, Louis Deacon, Dylan Hartley, James Haskell, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Moody, Tim Payne, Steve Thompson, David Wilson.
Backs: Matt Banahan, Danny Care, Mark Cueto, Ayoola Erinle, Shane Geraghty, Andy Goode, Dan Hipkiss, Paul Hodgson, Ugo Monye, Jonny Wilkinson.
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