National selector Bob McCarthy admits he would like changes to the Australian rugby league side for the Tri Nations final against Great Britain at the weekend.

However, he's sympathetic to Australian coach Wayne Bennett and the job he faces preparing his side to beat a resurgent Great Britain team which is on a roll before its home crowds.

McCarthy said he'd like to see Ben Kennedy and Shaun Timmins included in the Kangaroos' forward pack to add "mongrel", believing Great Britain's forwards emerged on top during the two round robin matches which the teams split one-all.

McCarthy was asked on Radio 2KY's Big Sports Breakfast show whether he would make the same team selections if he was in Bennett's shoes.

"I'd be putting Kennedy in there, if you play against England you've got to have a bit of mongrel in there, and you've got to have Kennedy, you've got to have (prop Mark) O'Meley and you've got to have Timmins in there," McCarthy said.

"The other guys will go alright but you've got to put them in there and fit a side around them type of people.

"Their forwards have come out with plenty of fire in both games so far and I think they've finished just a bit on top of us.

"And I think we just need to match their fire so our backs can just capitalise on it."

With the Kangaroos in danger of suffering a first series loss to Great Britain in 34 years, Bennett has come in for some criticism back home over his team selections.

Critics most often cite Tonie Carroll's selection at lock ahead of Timmins or Kennedy, and Shaun Berrigan in the centres instead of Brent Tate or Matt Cooper.

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