Morgan Smithies is determined to seize his chance in England's second Ashes Test against Australia in Liverpool on Saturday.

Smithies, 24, made his international debut against France in 2023 but has had to wait for his second opportunity, one that should come this weekend after he was included in Shaun Wane's 19-strong squad for the match at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium.

"It would be a massive honour and a privilege to run out on Saturday," said Smithies.

"It's been a few years now and I'll be full of pride - I'm a proud Englishman. "It does feel like a long time, but I can't wait to get out there and play with the boys. It's do or die this weekend, so I want to do all I can for my team-mates and my country."

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Mikey Lewis who is among the England interchanges today is currently peppering the England try line with high kick after high kick, with debutant AJ Brimson the man currently being put through his paces.

Encouragingly, for England supporters, he's not dropped one yet.

Will Shaun Wane's decision to drop Jack Welsby for the Gold Coast Titans full-back pay off? We shall soon find out.

AJ Brimson makes his England debut at full-back in after Jack Welsby was left out of Shaun Wane's 19-man matchday squad.

Brisbane-born Brimson switched allegiance from Australia to England earlier this year, qualifying through his mother from London.

Wigan half-back Harry Smith has been recalled after sitting out the first Test, and versatile Kallum Watkins also comes into the XIII.

Prop Ethan Havard and second row John Bateman drop out. Bateman is understood to have been struggling with illness.

Image source, BBC Sport

The aches and pains of Saturday's game at Wembley might have started to fade but the disappointment of losing takes a bit longer to drift away.

We didn't really give the best account of ourselves. Australia are a quality team. We showed some good signs and missed a few opportunities and they took theirs. At that level, you get stung pretty quickly if you don't concentrate and don't take your chances, and I think that's what happened.

We put a lot of effort, time and energy into preparing for that Test and we just didn't get it right, unfortunately. We brought some physicality to some stages of the game but in other moments we just missed the boat, so there has been loads to work on.

The good thing we've got two more cracks at it.

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Image source, SWPix

BBC One

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Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at Hill Dickinson Stadium

England head coach Shaun Wane says his team are in "make or break" territory as they approach Saturday's second Ashes Test against Australia needing a victory to keep the series alive.

The former Wigan boss has made three changes to his 19-man matchday squad to face the Kangaroos at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium after a chastening 26-6 defeat in the opening match at Wembley.

Speaking to the media this week, Wane described the loss and subsequent inquest into it as "heartbreaking" for his players and staff.

"I want a team to go out on Saturday and for it to look like a proper Test match," said Wane.

"It didn't look like a Test match to me [at Wembley]. It wasn't physical - they were better in many areas, so this week has to look like a real Test match and we need to give a better account of ourselves.

"This is make or break. We've got one game left. That's the way I look at it and you don't want go into the third game having lost two."

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England coach Shaun Wane says that England "undersold" themselves and were not clinical enough in their first Rugby League Ashes test match against Australia.

Reece Walsh and Angus Crichton scored two tries each as Australia comprehensively beat England at Wembley a week ago.

Australia stand-in captain Harry Grant leads the side in the second Rugby League Ashes Test today.

The Melbourne Storm captain will lead the Kangaroos at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium, with captain Isaah Yeo ruled out after failing a head injury assessment.

Grant, 27, took over as captain when Yeo was injured in a collision with England winger Dom Young during the early stages of Australia's 26-6 first-Test win at Wembley last Saturday.

The 30-year-old back row is now going through return-to-play concussion protocols.

Sydney Roosters prop Lindsay Collins is promoted to the starting line-up in the only personnel change to the team that started at Wembley, with Patrick Carrigan moving into the loose forward role vacated by Yeo.

Lindsay Smith, Yeo's Penrith Panthers club-mate, steps up to the bench, with Jacob Preston named among the reserves.

Australia: Reece Walsh, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Kotoni Staggs, Gehamat Shibasaki, Josh Addo-Carr, Cameron Munster, Nathan Cleary, Lindsay Collins, Harry Grant (captain), Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Angus Crichton, Hudson Young, Patrick Carrigan.

Interchanges: Tom Dearden, Lindsay Smith, Reuben Cotter, Keaon Koloamatangi.

Reserves: Bradman Best, Jacob Preston, Mitchell Moses.

The England team is in, and even given the steer we got from Shaun Wane's 19-man matchday squad selection, there's quite a lot to pick out of it.

Kallum Watkins starts - his first England appearance since the 2022 World Cup semi-final - with Owen Trout missing out on the 17 altogether.

Harry Smith is recalled to the halves to partner George Williams, with Mikey Lewis dropping down to the bench. Canberra's Morgan Smithies is also among the interchanges.

As expected, AJ Brimson makes his England debut at full-back, with Jack Welsby having been left out of the squad announced on Thursday.

England: AJ Brimson, Dom Young, Herbie Farnworth, Jake Wardle, Tom Johnstone, George Williams (capt), Harry Smith, Mike McMeeken, Jez Litten, Matty Lees, Kai Pearce-Paul, Kallum Watkins, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Mikey Lewis, Alex Walmsley, Morgan Smithies, Mikolaj Oledzki.

Image source, RL Commercial

Well, last week was a rather damp squib for England fans.

The first rugby league Ashes test in 22 years, a return to Wembley in front of 60,000 fans - and Australia blew the hosts away.

But all is not lost. If England win today in Liverpool, the Ashes will be decided next week at Headingley.

If the Aussies win - well, it should be a good atmosphere in Leeds regardless.