Smith rests Saints trio

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Coach Tony Smith has decided to rest Man of Steel James Graham, along with his St Helens team-mates James Roby and Ade Gardner, for a game that is being seen as a "dead rubber".

Barring an unlikely victory by Papua New Guinea over Australia in Townsville on Sunday, England and the Kiwis will meet again a week later in the first semi-final in Brisbane.

With that crunch clash in mind, Smith has taken the opportunity to rotate his squad, with Mickey Higham, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Jamie Langley, Rob Purdham, Paul Sykes and Ben Westwood all hoping for a first World Cup appearance after being named in a 19-strong squad.

As the only other specialist hooker in England's 24-man party, Higham is certain to take the place of Roby, who has been one of the shining lights of England's first two matches, while winger Lee Smith returns from a foot injury to take over from Gardner.

With prop Maurie Fa'asavalu nursing a hand injury, captain Jamie Peacock and Adrian Morley will shoulder the bulk of the front-row work, with Jones-Buchanan favourite to move up from the second row when required.

England's only other injury absentee is back rower Jon Wilkin, who has facial bruising but is expected to be available for the semi-final.

Prop Evarn Tuimavave will make his debut for New Zealand in place of the rested captain Nathan Cayless.

The call-up of the 24-year-old New Zealand Warrior is one of five changes made by coach Stephen Kearney to the side which beat Papua New Guinea 48-6 on the Gold Coast last Saturday.

The side will be led by Melbourne back rower Jeremy Smith, who captained the side against Tonga in Auckland last month.