Four Nations: Sean O'Loughlin & Matty Smith fit for England

Sean O'Loughlin missed England's Four Nations opener with Samoa with a quad injury

Matty Smith is fit for England's Four Nations game with Australia on Sunday, and says Wigan team-mate Sean O'Loughlin should also start.

Smith says he has recovered from the ankle injury suffered on his England debut during the 32-26 win over Samoa.

O'Loughlin, 31, missed that game with a quad injury and was left out of manager Steve McNamara's provisional team for Sunday's clash in Melbourne.

But Smith, 27, expects late changes to include the England captain's return.

Matty Smith says he has recovered from an ankle injury sustained in England's 32-26 win over Samoa

On Tuesday McNamara hinted there could be "a change or two at the back end of the week" as captain O'Loughlin stepped up his recovery from the injury picked up in Wigan's defeat to St Helens in the Super League final.

Smith told BBC Radio Manchester: "He's confident, he's trained well this week. He's our captain and he's an important player for us. We want him out there on the field.

"Having him back, plus the likes of James Graham with the twins George and Tom Burgess playing in that middle - it's a pretty big pack.

"Hopefully Sean can lead us out on Sunday."

England's last victory over Australia was the 20-16 1995 World Cup win at Wembley Stadium, although Brian Noble's Great Britain beat the Kangaroos 23-12 in the Tri-Nations Series in 2006 in Sydney.

Australia's shock defeat to New Zealand in their opening fixture means England will qualify for the final in Wellington, New Zealand on 15 November if they defeat Tim Sheens's side in Melbourne.