HULL KR: Shoulder worry won't stop Shaun

SHAUN Briscoe may still be nursing a shoulder injury, but he will put up with the pain to help England put one over Australia tonight.

Mindful of the lessons of the last World Cup and with one eye on the next, coach Tony Smith has put his country's fortunes in the hands of an exciting crop of youngsters untainted by previous painful experiences at the Kangaroos' hands.

Sam Burgess is the "baby" of an experienced pack hoping to lay a platform for the likes of 20-year-olds Sam Tomkins and Kyle Eastmond, 19-year-old Tom Briscoe and 21-year-old Ryan Hall to strut their stuff.

Briscoe, who has inherited the full-back role from Paul Wellens, is a relative veteran in Tony Smith's squad at 26 and aware of the size of the task facing him and his fellow backs.

He said: "It's a big challenge for myself and a big challenge for the team but we're confident we can do a job and we're looking forward to it," he said.

The only specialist number one in Smith's 24-man squad, Briscoe has the opportunity to secure the role for England up to and including the 2013 World Cup.

But he received a reminder that nothing is guaranteed when he was withdrawn 14 minutes into the second half of England's opening 34-12 win over France and replaced by the versatile Eastmond.

"I never took anything for granted," said the Hull KR favourite. "Lee Smith can also play full-back – he won man of the match in a Grand Final from full-back.

"I'm happy to do whatever Tony says, what's best for the team is something I'll go along with. I've got the shirt for this game and take it a game at a time.

"Tony put his faith in me and I've got to try and repay him by putting in a good performance this week.

"The shoulder is not really an issue for me any more. It's a niggle and you play with them all season. A couple more games is not going to do me any harm."

If Briscoe and England need any inspiration they could find it in the shape of former Great Britain full-back Kris Radlinski, Briscoe's predecessor at his old club Wigan who is now on the England backroom staff.

"Obviously Rads is one of a kind," he said. "He was an exceptional talent.

"I can take a lot more on board than I probably did when I was younger and, to have someone like that around is great not just for his full-back play but for the experiences that he's had."