Saturday 1 November 2014 09:58, UK
England travel to AAMI Park on Sunday knowing victory will book them a place in the 2014 Four Nations final and send world champions Australia crashing out of the competition on home soil.
Following New Zealand’s late victory over Samoa on Saturday, the equation in Melbourne is simple, an England win sets up a final date with the Kiwis, but should Australia prevail if they keep their tournament alive.
England have spent the majority of the week at their base on Queensland's Gold Coast following their win against Samoa before travelling to Melbourne on Thursday to complete their preparations for a victory bid which, if successful, would take them through to a first Tri or Four Nations final in the southern hemisphere.
England's last victory against Australia was the 1995 World Cup opener at Wembley Stadium, when the hosts won 20-16, although Brian Noble's Great Britain beat the Kangaroos 23-12 in the Tri-Nations Series in 2006 in Sydney.
England captain Sean O'Loughlin is the only member of the 24-man squad to have ever tasted success against Australia, having played in 2006.
O’Loughlin has been left out of an unchanged squad as he continues to recover from the injury which ruled him out of the series opener and if he fails to make the line-up, James Graham will lead the side, as he did against the Pacific Islanders, who twice held the lead and pushed England all the way at Suncorp Stadium.
"It was a hard-fought win for us against Samoa," said coach Steve McNamara said. "There is room for improvement within our game. We had to overcome a very talented and tenacious team with limited preparation in extreme heat.
"I was pleased with the way we dug in and found a way to win in extreme circumstances. We will have to show that same resolve this week."
England have also been monitoring scrum-half Matty Smith and hooker Daryl Clark after they picked up knocks against the Samoans.
The organisers have decided not to go with neutral referees, appointing Australian Gerard Sutton for Sunday's game while New Zealander Henry Perenara will be in charge of the Kiwis' clash with Samoa in Wharangei on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Sione Mata'utia will make history by becoming the youngest Test debutant for Australia in the Kangaroos' must-win clash on Sunday.
The Newcastle Knights winger will take the field at the age of 18 years and 130 days, beating the record of Israel Folau – now a huge rugby union star - who was 18 years and 194 days on his debut in 2007.
Mata’utia – who has played in just seven NRL games - replaces Daniel Tupou, who has been dropped after making his debut in Saturday's 30-12 defeat by New Zealand in the Kangaroos' opening game in Brisbane.
Daly Cherry-Evans has been named at stand-off as he battles to overcome the hip injury he sustained against the Kiwis but coach Tim Sheens has drafted the uncapped Ben Hunt onto a seven-man bench as cover.
Sheens has shuffled his pack with Corey Parker promoted to loose forward and Josh Hoffman dropped to the bench, while Canterbury Bulldogs forward David Klemmer could also make his debut after being drafted into the 20-man squad.
Australia: G Inglis; J Mansour, M Jennings, D Walker, S Mata'utia; D Cherry-Evans, C Cronk; A Woods, C Smith, S Thaiday, B Scott, G Bird, C Parker
Interchange: B Cordner, R Farah, A Guerra, R Hoffman, B Hunt, D Klemmer, J Papalii
England: S Tomkins; J Charnley, K Watkins, M Shenton, R Hall; G Widdop, M Smith; G Burgess, J Hodgson, J Graham (capt), L Farrell, J Tomkins, J Westerman
Interchange: D Clark, B Ferres, T Burgess, C Hill
