Anderson recalls his part in salvaging a draw at the start of last summer's five-Test series against Australia at Cardiff - a precursor to England regaining the Ashes.
The difference this time, against South Africa, is that nightwatchman Anderson's part in salvaging a draw will revolve around what he can achieve in the first hour rather than the last.
England will resume tomorrow on 11 for one, needing to eke out a full three sessions after South Africa set them a notional 364 to win on the back of Hashim Amla's seventh Test century and 50s from AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher.
"It's going to be a big day for us - very similar to Cardiff in the Ashes," said Anderson, acknowledging obvious parallels with that match five months ago. "We pulled through and we saw what happened after that.
"That's the sort of momentum we can get to put us in a good position for the rest of the series, if we get through tomorrow - win or draw."
Anderson does not entirely rule out the prospect of victory but knows it is a highly unlikely outcome on an unpredictable pitch which has already served up some unplayable if occasional low bounce.
"We've certainly been in this position before - so we know exactly what to do," he added.
"You've got to put the wicket out of your mind, don't think about what could happen with the balls that go underground.
"We're going to have to be reasonably positive when we bat and hope we can manage to get through."
The prospect of salvaging a draw was far from England's minds when they had South Africa 46 for four this morning - and still only 106 in front.
But Amla (100) went on to share stands of 121 with De Villiers (64) and 75 with Boucher (63 not out) to snuff out England's fightback.
"We came out reasonably fired up, and at four down we thought 'we're in with a sniff here'," Anderson admitted.
"But they really dug in and played well and saw off the seamers' first couple of spells."
As for his own prospects as a batsman tomorrow, Anderson has confidence on the back of his 29-run share of a first-innings century ninth-wicket stand with Graeme Swann.
"I've found it a pretty easy wicket to bat on," he smiled, before conceding it may not be so simple second time round.
"It's going to be a really difficult first hour for us," he predicted.
"That harder ball does do some unusual things - but nothing of the sort happened with the old ball.
"As we saw today, once it does flatten out - and the ball gets a bit softer - it does become easier to bat on.
"If we can get through that first hour, we obviously have a good chance of batting the whole day."
Amla believes South Africa have put themselves in a winning position.
"We have a really good total on the board and we are confident," he said.
"We hope the wicket will deteriorate a bit more."
When Amla was eventually bowled by Anderson it was with a shooter, and he added: "Although I may have been extremely disappointed to get out, there were a few guys in our changing room who said 'sorry Hash, but it's good news'.
"We've got to hope that the wicket is a bit more up and down so it makes it a little easier for us."
It was far from that in the first hour today - and reflecting on South Africa's state then, Amla spelled out: "There's no joke about it - we were under massive pressure.
"If we had a lost a few more quick wickets the total would have been considerably less - but fortunately AB and I got a partnership going."
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