But the Wallabies have been dealt a massive double blow in the build-up to the biggest clash of the World Cup so far, with enforcers Wycliff Palu (hamstring) and Will Skelton (shoulder) ruled out of the rest of the tournament.

Hooker James Hanson and Sam Carter have answered calls to join the squad in London as injury replacements, with Palu and Skelton to fly home.

The loss of Australia's two most powerful players is a huge hit as the Wallabies set out to exorcise their scrum demons at a venue where England has demolished them in the past.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has challenged England to try to bully Australia again, but insists his forward pack is ready for the challenge.

"I would say [they will use the scrum as weapon], that's where they have dominated us before – the scrums, mauls and stuff like that," Cheika said.

"It's not the only thing. I think they have more in their game. But I think they will come hard for us there; you have to be ready for war in that part of the game."

Carter and Hanson will join the Wallabies in the coming days after getting the call to be injury replacements.

Palu's 57-Test career is now almost certainly over as he gets ready for a move to Japanese rugby, falling short of the ARU's new 60-Test eligibility rule.

Hanson was controversially left out of the initial 31-man squad and the Wallabies carried just two hookers – Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau – into the tournament.

But Cheika has opted to take no further risks as the Wallabies face do-or-die games for the rest of the World Cup.

Hanson has been playing in the National Rugby Championship in Australia while Carter has been based in France for the Bordeaux Begles.

Palu was likely to miss selection against England because if the David Pocock-Michael Hooper back-row combination.

But England will breathe a sigh of relief at Skelton's absence and the World Cup's second heaviest player leaves a huge gap in the Wallabies' line-up.

Carter is likely to come into selection contention to play England, but Hanson's 24-hour transit from Australia will rule him out of the blockbuster.

The Wallabies are banking on a new "all eight pushing straight" scrum philosophy to restore pride, and hope referee Romain Poite will pounce on England's wheeling tactics.

Poite was the man who continually ripped apart the Wallabies' scrum as it fell to pieces in the third Test against the British and Irish Lions two years ago.

But after rebuilding the set piece under Mario Ledesma's guidance, the Wallabies hope Poite is an ally in combatting prop Joe Marler's tactics.

Marler has become an expert in illegally wheeling scrums without being penalised.

When asked if he hoped Poite would pounce on England's tactics, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said: "The referees prepare very well for the game.

"All we can do is stay as square as we possible can and make the opposition make their play from there, and see what happens.

"That's very much our strategy. I don't think it's any secret ... and also, put in massive amounts of weight.

"That's the way our scrum is set up and I'm sure they will have a tactic ... they very much bullied us in the scrum before and I think they will try to do it again."

Cheika said players put their hands up for selection in the 65-3 rout of Uruguay last weekend, with rookie flanker Sean McMahon in contention for a bench spot after a superb performance that was "pretty hard to ignore".

England is showing signs of the pressure of a nation taking its toll.

Fullback Mike Brown gave a stroppy interview to reporters after their three-point loss to Wales last weekend, which has left them in danger of an embarrassing early exit from the World Cup.

Brown gave one-word answers and was agitated in a short interview before he stormed off.

But the Wallabies are trying to avoid reading into England's desperation.

"We've been treating every game like a World Cup final, that's the way we've approached it," Cheika said.

"We don't feel like we're in a position to say it's all cruisy and now we better hurry up and play because it's sudden death.

"We feel like every game is sudden death because you lose one and you're in trouble."