It will be master versus apprentice when Australia take on England this weekend with Kangaroos rookie David Shillington crediting English hardman Adrian Morley for his rise to the Test ranks.

Shillington claimed his time spent under Morley's tutelage as teammates at the Sydney Roosters in 2005-06 helped mould him into a first grade player.

And the 26-year-old prop is now about to go head to head with his mentor in his Test debut at Wigan on Saturday.

"When I was in reserve grade Ronnie Palmer, the Roosters trainer, partnered up me and Moz in the gym to teach me how to train at the elite level," Shillington said.

"That was a huge contributing factor in me talking big steps towards first grade."

But it wasn't just the training that Morley passed on, with Shillington admitting the firebrand prop also helped unleash his young understudy's aggressive side.

When it comes to lessons in intimidation, there's few better teachers than Morley, who still holds the record for the fastest ever send-off in Tests after lasting just 12 seconds before collecting Robbie Kearns with a high shot in the opening game of the 2003 Ashes series.

"When I was starting out, I needed to get a bit more aggressive like front rowers need to be, and he brought that out of me a little bit too," Shillington said.

"He was a good role model there, that's what he does best.

"He's a big, physical aggressive player, and that's why he's so good especially in Test footy with that intimidation factor.

"To get a chance against him, I'm pretty excited. It's a bit of a master and the apprentice actually."

It's an opportunity Shillington didn't see coming, with the Canberra prop thinking his only run of the tour would be the last game against France.

But with the Australians clearly out-muscled in their opening game against New Zealand, Sheens has opted for more size on his bench against an English pack which is just as big as the one the Kiwis trotted at The Stoop last weekend.

"You come over in a squad of 24 and you're not sure if you'll get a game let alone a few games," Shillington said.

"Usually on these tours the least important game is the French game, and with those extra seven players after the initial 17 you think you might get a run in the French game.

"Sheensy made it clear that we're here to win every game and we have to win this one as well - he's made a few changes and I'm glad I'm going to be a part of it."

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