Rugby World Cup 2015: Australia expect 'painful' Scotland tie

Australia have already beaten England and Wales

Australia head coach Michael Cheika expects a "tough" and "painful" encounter with Scotland in Sunday's Rugby World Cup quarter-final.

The Wallabies, unbeaten so far in the tournament with four wins, have not yet named their team to face the Scots.

Peter Horne, Fraser Brown and Blair Cowan will start for Scotland.

"They've been talking about a fair bit of physicality in the game, so it's obviously something that we've been working hard on our team," said Cheika.

"It's going to be tough, it's going to be painful, it's going to be physically difficult.

"There are going to be a lot of moments where we're going to be under pressure. Character is what's required at those times to help you get out of those moments and help you bounce back effectively when your time comes during the game.

"We understand that they'll be really trying to come at us with that physicality, but I also think that both teams have wanted to play some open rugby as well."

'We're not favourites'

Australia beat Wales to top spot in Pool A

Scotland coach Vern Cotter considers the Wallabies to be favourites for not just Sunday's contest but the tournament itself.

But, when asked about guarding against complacency as the favourites, Cheika replied: "It's pretty easy because we don't think we are.

"Today is our opportunity to work hard and get better in certain areas that we need to for the Scottish game and we're also acutely aware of the fact that this is really important for our own journey as a team.

"I know that that's going to happen, all that talk about who's favourites and who's not favourites but I've seen a lot of the Scottish players saying they can win - and they can, they can.

"That's the reality of sport, there's two teams on the field, one of them's going to win.

"What we need to do is make sure that our mindset is really clear on what we're prepared to do to get that victory."

The Scots can take heart from their recent Tests against Australia, with narrow victories garnered in 2009 and 2012 and getting to within six points in a 2013 defeat.

"You can only take the games ahead of you," added Cheika. "You've got to forget about the game we had the week before, let alone the year before or two years before.

"What happens on the day between the two teams over 80 minutes, the intent, the effort, the work-rate, the preparedness to go through the pain - that's what counts on the day.

"What's only relevant is how prepared you are to put your body on the line for 80 minutes."