VENUE & TIME: Elland Rd, Leeds - Saturday, November 19, 6pm (UK time), Sunday 5am (AEST), Sunday 7am Sunday (NZT)
COVERAGE: Channel 9/Sky Sport
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 10 - Australia 7, England 2, Draw 1.
LAST TIME: November, 2011 - Australia 36-20.
WALKING WOUNDED: After sitting out last week's win over Wales, Australia skipper Darren Lockyer returns for his farewell to rugby league. The big T-Rex, Tony Williams, is also back after serving a one-game suspension while Luke Lewis has declared himself fit after overcoming illness. Newcastle pocket rocket Akuila Uate will return on the right wing. England goes in with the same 17 that toppled New Zealand.
FORM: Both teams arrive at Elland Rd in pretty good form, setting the scene for what should be a tremendous decider. The Kangaroos chalked up comfortable wins over New Zealand and Wales but didn't have all their own way in the 16-point win over the Poms. They have great respect for this England line-up, tipping them as likely finalists two weeks ago. England dropped that game against the Aussies but were impressive in seeing off the Kiwis and had little trouble with the Welsh. There is no doubt the influence of Australian-based trio Gareth Widdop, Chris Heighington and Jack Reed has lifted standards across the board. With a full house cheering them on, the hosts are quietly confident of dethroning the Kangaroos. History is, however, against them. England have not beaten Australia for 16 years and have just two wins in 10 starts overall.
WHO'S HOT: Darren Lockyer has had more farewells than John Farnham this year but, unlike The Voice, this really is the end for the Gravelly Voice. After 355 NRL games, 36 State of Origin matches and a record 58 Tests, the great man will play his final game of rugby league nearly 20,000km away from where it all started. All year - in every team he's played - Locky has gone out of his way to tell teammates not to do it for him. Most have ignored the advice, with the Kangaroos to a man determined to ensure the champion pivot goes out a winner. Look for big Tony Williams to go on the rampage again. He trampled the Poms last time they met and will be freshened up by his week off.
NRL clubs knew how good England's Sam Tomkins was years ago, with the Sharks at one stage chasing his services. Since being switched from the scrum-base to fullback, interest in the livewire No.1 has gone through the roof. Rugby union attempted to lure Sam across to join his brother Joel at Saracens, while NRL clubs have come calling again. But after agreeing a new deal with Wigan, Tomkins won't be going anywhere for a while. After scoring four tries in the series-opener against Wales and proving a handful for the Kiwis and Kangaroos, the little bloke is rightly in line for player-of-the-series honours. We've already mentioned the impact NRL trio Reed, Heighington and Widdop have had on the Poms but don't forget ex-Roosters enforcer Adrian Morley. 'Moz' is still hitting harder than an old Salford Docks worker and will become England's most-capped player with appearance No.50.
WE THINK: Apart from the odd Kiwi-led uprising, Australia have dominated the insular world of rugby league for nigh on four decades.