Dylan Hartley ready to celebrate becoming most-capped England hooker

Dylan Hartley will celebrate a milestone moment on Saturday when he becomes England's most-capped hooker in the second Test against Australia in Melbourne.

The Grand Slam-winning captain makes his 74th appearance at AAMI Park, where he surpasses the mark set by World Cup winner Steve Thompson.

Yet the New Zealand-born player never dreamed of becoming a record-breaker when he arrived in Sussex 13 years ago.

The 30-year-old said: "I've just found out about it, it's a huge accolade. I think I was playing loosehead prop when I came to England, so there was no way I would have expected that.

"I'm cherishing every moment. When you're young, you are just caught up in it but when you are 30, you are aware of selection and you see that one week, some guys are in, then they're out.

"It makes me desperate to be in every week and keep being involved with this team. I just love being part of a group of people who want to go somewhere as a team."

I just love being part of a group of people who want to go somewhere as a team.

Following last week's success in Brisbane, England will complete a series victory over Australia if they secure back-to-back triumphs - no England team has ever won a series in Australia against the Wallabies.

As for Saturday's match: "This is our cup final and we have a chance to be the first team ever to do this. Has there been a mind-set shift? Definitely.

"It starts from the top and it filters down through myself to the senior players and through the 32.

"It's not just the players, all the staff are doing the best they can to make sure we're prepared for this weekend.

"It was nice to do that in Brisbane but the bigger picture, the real history, is to be made this week and that is the challenge and opportunity for us. It is really exciting."