The twins, who are part of a big England forward pack that boasts a 36-kilogram weight advantage over the Kangaroos, have been identified by the Australian coaching staff as two of the danger men in Sunday's Four Nations Test at AAMI Park because of their size and footwork close to the line.

"Obviously for Australia, everything is on the line, so they are going to be coming out with nothing to lose. They have to get a win and so do we," Thomas said. "As a young kid you dream of playing for your country, and obviously to beat Australia in their own backyard has not been done for so long. We have got a big task in front of us but everyone is looking forward to the challlenge."

After losing 30-12 to New Zealand last Saturday night, Australia need to win to stay in contention for a place in the November 15 final in Wellington, while England will have to overcome the Kiwis in Dunedin next weekend if they were to lose.

Should the Kangaroos miss out on the final, it would be the first time they have not qualified for a tournament decider since the inaugural World Cup in France 60 years ago.

"Australia is fighting for a place in the final, so it is going to be a great game," George said in an interview on the England team website. "A lot of the things that happened in the past is out of our control, so as long as we focus on what we can do with the team this week and in the future, we are on the way to creating a little bit of our own history."

The England team arrived in Melbourne on Thursday afternoon bolstered by the news that star centre Kallum Watkins had rejected interest from rugby union to commit to Leeds for a further five years and captain Sean O'Loughlin was on track to overcome a quadriceps injury to play against Australia.

Kangaroos five-eighth Daly Cherry-Evans also appears likely to play after training with the side for the first time since being forced from the field in the first half of the loss in Brisbane with a hip injury.

Australian coach Tim Sheens wanted to see how Cherry-Evans pulls up on Friday but he is expected to start, with Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt to fill the utility role on the interchange bench in his Test debut.

Giant Canterbury prop David Klemmer is also being tipped for a place on the interchange bench but Sheens said he would wait until an hour before the 4pm kick-off

The Kangaroos coach has challenged his forwards to get over the top of their bigger opponents after New Zealand's Jesse Bromwich, Kevin Procter, Jason Taumalolo and Greg Eastwood were allowed to create havoc in the middle of the field last Saturday night.

Much of the Australian team's training this week has focused on defence and stopping the likes of the Burgess twins and James Graham close to the tryline.

"Our centre, where there is plenty of experience, didn't stand up against the Kiwis, so there is some questions to be put to them that we have done all week and they have really got to stand up against the English pack," Sheens said.

"We had too much lost ball early in the tackle count in our half, so many of our sets started deep inside our territory. It just makes it too easy for an opposition team to work you over. We were our own worst enemy.

"If you are sharing posession with any side, let alone a big side like a New Zealand or England, then you are a much better chance of winning the game. It is very important for the offence to not only play tough but to play smart, and then you have got energy in your defence. When you are defending your own line against a big side all night, you are going to find it difficult."

"Obviously we are under some pressure from not having won the first game and England have won their first game [against Samoa]. The issue now is that the pressure is placed squarely back on us. England want to win but don't have to win. We have to win."