Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore is hopeful he will be back to help rescue the Australian scrum against an England pack readying itself for a Twickenham ambush this weekend.

Moore was a late withdrawal from Saturday's win over Wales after straining one of the facet joints in his back at training last Thursday.

He could only look on as Australia's scrum took a mauling from the Welsh but will be doing everything in his power to be there against England.

The Brumbies No.2 was man of the match in the Wallabies' most memorable recent scrummaging effort, 2008's respect-restoring 28-14 win at Twickenham.

"I have had a bit of cortisone in it this morning, and hopefully it will settle down," he said as the side prepared to leave Cardiff for London.

"I have had it a couple of times before and it settled down pretty quick with the same sort of treatment."

Moore had made it through last Friday's final session but woke up sore on match day and was unable to get through the warm-up at Millennium Stadium.

NSW Waratahs rake Tatafu Polota-Nau was being flown in after his recovery from a long-term ankle injury, but there is no concern over Moore's replacement Saia Faiga'a who limped from the field with a cork.

Moore and the Wallabies will run into the man whose mission in life has been ripping into Australian front rows, Andrew Sheridan.

His timely return from a 20-month layoff after shoulder surgery came in a strong performance against the All Blacks, whose scrum was penalised six times last weekend.

Sheridan was almost single-handedly responsible for Australia losing two props, Matt Dunning and Al Baxter, to injury and a yellow card in the now infamous 2005 Test at Twickenham, and handed out a similar dose during the 2007 World Cup.

His front row partner is likely to be youngster Dan Cole, whose good form on this year's tour to Australia will have him filled with confidence.

Moore said the Australian forwards would need to takethe same underdog mindset to Twickenham as the one which surprised England in 2008.

"That's the way we have got to think about it," he said.

"It's a mental thing. You just have to be mentally prepared for it.

"I'm sure that's all they will be talking about this week, and it is the same every time we come up here really.

"It's a massive challenge for us, but I am confident we can do the job."

While the Australians now have a week disrupted by a midweek match to get things right, they have discounted their engagement at the scrum and the recent return of tighthead prop Ben Alexander from a knee injury as possible causes of their problems.

Referees, though, are another matter.

"The way you start really sets the tone in the referee's mind of who's on top," Moore said.

"The first few scrums are crucial in getting a foothold, both on the opposition and I guess in the referee's head.

"Particularly up here, the referees reward the dominant scrum."

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