Smith - Lockyer will deliver

Lockyer: Tipped to shine by Smith

We've got some really big-game players, particularly our captain Darren Lockyer

Cameron Smith
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Australia skipper Darren Lockyer has been tipped by hooker Cameron Smith to produce a match-winning display for the Kangeroos in their crunch Gillette Four Nations match against England.

Smith is expecting Australia's big guns to bounce back from their opening 20-20 draw against New Zealand and stand up to the challenge of the must-win Anglo-Aussie clash.

"We've got some really big-game players, particularly our captain Darren

Lockyer," said the Melbourne Storm hooker.

"When the big games come, he usually shines and he gets the best out of his team-mates.

"I don't think we're going to feel too much pressure. We know that we can be a better side than we were last Saturday so that's a positive for us."

Lockyer, 32, smashed Mal Meninga's record to become Australia's most-capped player against the Kiwis and is now set to match the feat of another legend, Clive Churchill, who captained the Kangeroos 27 times.

Smith and Lockyer both featured in Australia's record 52-4 defeat of England in the World Cup last year, but the Melbourne Storm hooker insists that result will have no bearing on their approach to the clash at Wigan's DW Stadium.

"We played quite well that night and they will have been disappointed with their performance in the World Cup," he said.

"I think it will be a lot different, given they are playing on their home territory and in front of what I think will be a very vocal crowd in Wigan.

"They have plenty to play for. They're on top of the ladder at the moment and, if they get a win this week, they will be in the final.

"There are a couple of guys we haven't seen but I really do think their key is their forwards. They're really strong down the middle.

"They've had a couple of games together now and I thought they played some strong football in the second half against France. They finished strongly and got a good win."

Disjointed

Smith is also hoping that the Kangaroos will find their feet for the England match after a disjointed performance against the Kiwis.

"I thought New Zealand played a very strong game of football," he said. "We were a little bit rusty with parts of our game, particularly near their line.

"Most of our squad hadn't played for six or seven weeks and we didn't have the luxury of a warm-up match like the Kiwis did.

"This week it's do or die for us. If we lose, we're a big chance of not being in the final so we need a strong performance this week to beat England."

The series marks Smith's first trip to England after the 26-year-old missed out on Melbourne's 2008 World Cup Challenge defeat by Leeds Rhinos.

However, Smith is expected to face the champions in the re-match at Elland Road next year and claims he would still consider a move to the Super League.

"I guess being quite young still, I've got a couple more years at Storm in the

NRL but a move to England certainly is not out of the question," he said.

"I think each year Super League is getting stronger and stronger and there are more teams challenging for the title now.

"It would be nice to play over in a different country and I know a few ex-team-mates from the Storm who are over here and enjoying their time."