England coach Steve McNamara is expecting players from the Knights squad to push for a place in the full squad this season.
England boss hoping for improved competition this season
England coach Steve McNamara is expecting players from the Knights squad to push for a place in the full side this season.
McNamara has been putting 30 elite squad members through their paces at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire this week and will do likewise with the newly formed 25-strong England Knights next week.
With the mid-season international against a team of exiled Antipodeans in mind, McNamara said he would not rule out picking players currently outside both squads if necessary.
"One of the ideas of the Knights programme is for them to keep putting pressure on the people above them," McNamara said.
"There is also an opportunity for players to come in from outside.
"It's not a centrally-contracted squad like rugby union and I'm absolutely sure that some players will perform exceptionally in the first three months of the season to push themselves into contention."
McNamara demonstrated his willingness to recall form players by including Leeds scrum-half Rob Burrow and St Helens pair Jon Wilkin and Leon Pryce in his elite squad after they were discarded at the end of the 2008 World Cup.
Good shape
"Rob and Jon Wilkin both had a good off-season and have made a good start to the season," he said. "A lot of our players sometimes need an off-season.
"They have come back physically looking in really good shape, they're sharp and back to their best.
"Leon has not had the best of luck but, if he can be playing his best rugby league, then he's an asset for any squad."
Meanwhile, England captain Jamie Peacock continued his rehabilitation from major knee surgery during the squad's two-day stay in Sleaford.
He is expected to return for Leeds in good time to lead England in their June international and believes his enforced lay-off could provide a bonus for club and country towards the end of the year.
"The way I see it, every week I'm out and everybody else is playing is a gain for me because they're tapping into the reserves of what they gained in pre-season," he said.
"I'll only be playing a 20-game season, which is massive difference to the usual 35 games.
"I'm hoping come August, September, October and November, I'll be playing my best football."
