The Wallabies will face an England team with just one change to the side that went down 26-16 to the All Blacks last weekend.

Significantly, it's in the front row where the English have made the change, promoting aggressive hooker Dylan Hartley to their starting line-up ahead of Steve Thompson.

Up front is where England are expected to target Australia, whose scrum struggled against the Wales pack in last Saturday's 25-16 victory at the Millennium Stadium.

Wallabies nemesis Andrew Sheridan and the fast-developing Dan Cole complete an intimidating England front row, with Australia desperately hoping hooker Stephen Moore can return from a back strain.

New Zealand-born Hartley avoided being cited for a clash with All Blacks captain Richie McCaw at Twickenham.

But he was dynamic off the English bench and scored one of his side's tries.

England coach Martin Johnson said Hartley would need to control his aggression.

"He understands he's got to be a force for good, not for being penalised and off the field and banned," he told a press conference at England's base in Surrey, west of London.

"We're happy with him, he's got a lot of confrontational energy which is what we need."

Johnson has also tinkered with his bench, where veteran lock Simon Shaw returns in place of Dave Attwood.

The coach says his side needs to improve on taking its opportunities after the loss to the All Blacks.

"You can't make the mistakes that we made and win at this level," he said.

"We were a little disjointed at times and we have to take care of that.

"Attacking-wise for a first game (of England's international season) we were better than

we have been in a first game for a while."

The Wallabies name their team on Thursday (early Friday morning AEDT).

England: Ben Foden, Chris Ashton, Mike Tindall, Shontayne Hape, Mark Cueto, Toby Flood, Ben Youngs, Andrew Sheridan, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Tom Palmer, Tom Croft, Lewis Moody (capt), Nicke Easter. Res: Steve Thompson, David Wilson, Simon Shaw, Hendre Fourie, Danny Care, Charlie Hodgson, Delon Armitage.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP