WOLVES’ representatives in the England squad will come up against an Australian side under pressure on Sunday.

The Kangaroos’ 17-match unbeaten run was ended 30-12 by New Zealand in Brisbane at the weekend and the 2013 Rugby League World Cup winners are highly likely to need a win at AAMI Park in Melbourne to remain in the competition.

That means a potential backlash against England, who know they will need to be better than in their 32-26 battle of survival against Samoa at Broncos’ Suncorp Stadium home.

Wolves player of the year Chris Hill was England’s most productive prop - if not player - against the big Samoans, coming off the bench just before England scored their own try set up by new Warrington signing Daryl Clark on debut.

Hill said: “That was the first game of hopefully a four-game series for us.

“It’s going to take some time. We’ve not met up for 12 months since the World Cup and we’ve got new combinations.

“We’re happy we got the win and we build from here. We’ll improve game by game.”

Clark’s England debut off the bench was the stuff of fairytales.

The hooker ran on in back play, jumped in at dummy half and then stepped between tiring defenders to break away in the trademark style that earned him the 2014 Man of Steel Award.

On his shoulder was Castleford Tigers teammate Michael Shenton to score the opening try.

“It was pretty nerve-wracking beforehand, but once I got on the field and into the game I felt pretty comfortable.

“Samoa are a big physical side and it was a step up to what I’m used to.

“We felt we were far off what we are capable of but it’s a win with room for improvement and we’ll do that for the next game.”

Clark injured his back shortly before half time in a tackle that left his body doubled up while falling backwards, but after medical treatment he continued until the planned rotation with Canberra Raiders-bound Josh Hodgson midway through the second half. He has been receiving treatment on his ankle and calf.

England, after trailing 10-6, took a 20-10 lead with Clark’s vision and accurate distribution from acting half back playing its part in tries from Leeds Rhinos’ former Latchford Albion amateur Kallum Watkins and Wigan back rower Liam Farrell.

But gutsy Samoa, packed with NRL talent, proved stubborn and regained a 22-10 advantage courtesy of two tries from Wakefield hooker Pita Godinet.

Tries from the Tomkins brothers Sam and Warrington-born Joel eventually proved to be enough against a side expected to end the tournament without a win.

Samoa travel to New Zealand to face the Kiwis on Saturday at Toll Stadium in Whangarei – home of Northland rugby union team – in a repeat of the sensational opening group game in the 2013 RL World Cup staged at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

But the weekend’s feature clash is Australia v England at the 30,000-capacity AAMI Park, home of NRL team Melbourne Storm, professional football sides Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory as well as Super Rugby outfit Melbourne Rebels.

England have played Australia at the venue once before, a 34-14 loss in front of 18,894 fans as part of the 2010 Four Nations.

On that occasion, Australia were not far off full strength. This time they are missing some big names from their squad – such as Melbourne full back Billy Slater, North Queensland scrum half Jonathan Thurston and Parramatta full back Jarryd Hayne, the son of former Warrington centre Manoa Thompson who has just switched from the NRL to the NFL in a bid to make it big as an American Football player.

And against the Kiwis they lost the services of scrum half Daley Cherry-Evans during the game through injury and full back Greg Inglis through illness.

So, like England, Tim Sheens’ fresh-faced Australia side are looking to gel as quickly as possible in preparation for the first meeting between the sides since the World Cup opening game day at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff last October.