ENGLAND forward Chris Hill says captain Sean O'Loughlin is on the mend ahead of the World Cup final but insists he is not irreplaceable.

O'Loughlin was considered doubtful by head coach Wayne Bennett after picking up a quadriceps injury during England's 20-18 semi-final win over Tonga last weekend but has been named in Saturday's team to face Australia at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.

Hill said: "He's doing everything possible to get fit. I saw him this morning and he's moving a lot better. We've got a couple of days yet, so we'll wait and see.

"If he doesn't play, obviously it's a loss – but that's why we've brought a squad as someone else will step in."

Bennett has recalled veteran forward Chris Heighington in the only change to his semi-final line-up. The 34-year-old Cronulla second-rower has been handed the vacant bench spot, with James Roby starting at hooker in place of the injured Josh Hodgson.

Roby, who won his 30th cap at Mount Smart Stadium, is the only other specialist hooker in the 24-man squad but Hill is confident the St Helens number nine will be able to play most, if not all, of Saturday's game.

"Nothing changes," said the Warrington captain at a fans event in the centre of Brisbane. "Robes can do 80 minutes. He's done it for 15 years in Super League and he's done it internationally. He's more than capable."

After reaching the final for the first time for 22 years, Bennett's national side now have the opportunity to carve themselves a slice of history as they seek to pull off the first World Cup triumph since Great Britain lifted the trophy in 1972.

Hill, who has started all five games so far, says the England players are aware of the huge spoils that await them, as well as the size of their task.

He said: "It would be a massive boost. A lot of lads here have made a lot of sacrifices over these last seven weeks. We'll do it for our group and hopefully it has a massive roll-on effect for the English game.

"Everyone is buzzing. I think we've improved massively under Wayne. Australia are favourites for a reason – they're on home soil and they've won it so many times – but let's concentrate on ourselves."

Meanwhile, Hill says he has no problems with the final being refereed by an Australian after Gerard Sutton was awarded the game.

Hill said: "He'll do his job, whether he's English, French or from Australia or New Zealand, it doesn't matter. Let him get on with his job."

England's Chris Kendall will be a touch judge and fellow Super League official Ben Thaler has been appointed as video referee.

England: G Widdop (St George Illawarra); J McGillvary (Huddersfield), K Watkins (Leeds), J Bateman (Wigan), R Hall (Leeds); K Brown (Warrington), L Gale (Castleford); C Hill (Warrington), J Roby (St Helens), J Graham (Canterbury Bulldogs), S Burgess (South Sydney), E Whitehead (Canberra), S O'Loughlin (Wigan, capt). Interchange: A Walmsley (St Helens), B Currie (Warrington), T Burgess (South Sydney), C Heighington (Cronulla).

Australia: B Slater; D Gagai, W Chambers, J Dugan, V Holmes; M Morgan, C Cronk; A Woods, C Smith (capt), D Klemmer, B Cordner, M Gillett, J McGuire. Interchange: W Graham, J McLean, R Campbell-Gillard, T Frizell.