The Three Lions are level on points with Montenegro at the top of the group but have a game in hand and it is Ukraine, a point further back, who have emerged as the most dangerous challengers following a fine run of form under Mykhaylo Fomenko.
Tricky home games against Montenegro and Poland lie ahead for England next month but they must first negotiate a formidable test in Kiev which Hodgson admits is 'like a cup final'.
Defeat would leave England needing Ukraine to slip up but a victory or even a draw would keep them in control of their own destiny and Hodgson is taking inspiration from a goalless night in Italy in 1997 which saw the team through to the World Cup.
He said: "There are parallels. But we stuck together, dug ourselves in to get a good result and if we can do something similar I'll be as happy as I was leaving the Olympic Stadium in Rome that evening."
England required a late penalty from Frank Lampard to salvage a 1-1 draw against Ukraine at Wembley and the Chelsea midfielder will make his 100th international appearance in the return fixture.
Hodgson can also take encouragement from a 1-0 victory over Ukraine in the group phase of Euro 2012, before they bowed out of the competition at Kiev's Olympic Stadium following a defeat by Italy on penalties.
After England's comfortable 4-0 thrashing of Moldova on Friday night, Roy Hodgson's team sit unbeaten at the top of Group H. However, they're level on points with Montenegro and a single point ahead of Ukraine, who they meet in a crunch match in Kiev on Tuesday. With a win, Ukraine would leapfrog England and go top, making England's World Cup qualification a whole lot less assured.
Though England hasn't lost since they were felled by The Almighty Zlatan Sweden in a friendly last November, Ukraine has looked even better shape of late. They too haven't lost in almost a year, only conceding twice. As national team coach Mykhaylo Fomenko is still unbeaten, having witnessed his side mercilessly put nine past San Marino on Friday, Ukraine will prove to be England's toughest qualification test yet.
Ukraine vs England
England did manage to scrape a 1-0 win when these sides met at Wembley in the reverse fixture, though this time around Roy Hodgson will be unable to select Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge through injury, and, after picking up a yellow card against Moldova, suspended striker Danny Welbeck. Ukraine is more fortunate, with all of its star players available.Match Date/Time: Tuesday, 9:45 p.m. local, 2:45 p.m. ET
Preparations for the latest trip to Kiev have not been helped by injuries to players such as Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge, while Danny Welbeck is also suspended after picking up a yellow card in Friday's 4-0 victory over Moldova.
Kyle Walker, meanwhile, has had to apologise after photographs emerged over the weekend of him taking the 'legal high' nitrous oxide, although Hodgson has confirmed the Tottenham Hotspur right-back will keep his place.
