Rugby World Cup 2015: England still favourites as Michael Cheika prepares for Sam Burgess showdown

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika also says his team must "find the answers" for an England midfield boasting former NRL premiership hero Sam Burgess.

England are under siege after a shock loss to Wales last weekend put their World Cup hopes in jeopardy.

They now face the prospect of being eliminated from the tournament in their own backyard before the quarter finals if they lose to Australia on Saturday (Sunday morning AEST).

But Cheika insisted England was favourites in a battle at Twickenham as pressure mounts on the hosts.

"They are playing at their home ground, number one, where inevitably they win," Cheika said.

"It's already a difficult challenge playing against a team in the World Cup in their home venue.

"They were second favourites behind New Zealand at the start of the tournament and I don't see just because they lost a game that should change.

"Playing at your home ground is a massive advantage … and of course they've beaten us the last time, they took it to us some of the set pieces in the game.

"We weren't bad in that game [on the spring tour last year] but being not bad is not enough.

"They are going to be a formidable opponent, there's no doubt about that."

England have fresh injury concerns and will fight a mountain of pressure from their home fans and media in the build up to the Wallabies' game.

Coach Stuart Lancaster also faces selection drama, with inside centre Sam Burgess at the top of the list.

Burgess was injected to the England's starting side for just his fifth England cap, and just his second as a starting XV member.

It came less than a year after Burgess led South Sydney to an historic NRL premiership.

And it's fitting that in NRL grand final week, Burgess could be a key factor on the field again if Lancaster sticks with him in the No. 12 jersey.

Burgess was caught out defensively on occasions against Wales, but his power running and ability to offload make him a dangerous proposition for the Wallabies.

Cheika spoke to Burgess in Sydney before the 26-year-old decided to quit the NRL last year.

"I don't know, I'm obviously a big fan of his from his rugby league days as well," Cheika said.

"But … I am sure whatever they do, it will be difficult to deal with and we will have to find the answers.

"I have really tried hard to put as much as I can into our team. I understand you have to prepare certain things but I have really tried to focus on improving our team so that when you get there, you are feeling ready."

England captain Chris Robshaw has copped plenty of criticism for his decision to turn down a penalty shot in the dying minutes of a 28-25 loss to Wales.

England could have escaped with a draw had he taken the shot, but Robshaw instead went for a the win and it backfired when Wales hung on for victory.

The pressure is starting to take its toll and former England captain Will Carling said Lancaster was treating the players "like schoolboys".

"It's a very classroom-orientated environment," Carling said.

"My view is that he has had the leaders and that he needed to have trusted them and develop them.

"What we watched in the last 10 minutes [against Wales] was a confused debate between people who have never been given responsibility to lead and drive the team.

"Instead, we've treated them as schoolboys."

But Cheika is refusing to buy into a war of words and light the fuse for an explosive battle.

Instead, the Wallabies want to avoid all controversy and fly under the radar as the British media and fans heap pressure on Lancaster's squad.

"To be honest, I am looking to earn everything we get," Cheika said.

"I am not looking to have someone be in trouble for us to succeed. I am looking to earn success, through the way we play and how we present ourselves.

"I don't want to fluke it because someone wasn't on their game … that's how we've approached every day in our preparation."