Mortlock returns to lead Wallabies

Stirling Mortlock has been cleared to lead Australia in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against defending champions England.

Mortlock missed Australia's last two pool games after dislocating his shoulder but has been recalled for the rematch between the 2003 finalists.

Mortlock's return was expected but still came as welcome relief to a Wallaby squad badly hit with injuries.

Wing Mark Gerrard and backrower Davis Lyons have already been ruled out of the tournament while flyhalf Stephen Larkham and utility back Scott Staniforth are both unavailable for Saturday's quarter-final. "The shoulder is great. I could have played last week but I wanted that extra week of rehab," Mortlock told explained.

"There's a lot of hype about this match and I'm just excited to be playing again."

As expected, Australia coach John Connolly has stuck with virtually the same team that he used in the crunch pool game against Wales, with only one change.

Adam Ashley-Cooper, who missed that game with a toe injury, comes into the side on the left wing for the lighter-framed Drew Mitchell, who drops back to the reserves despite being the tournament's leading tryscorer with seven touchdowns.

The versatile Julian Huxley is the only other back on a replacements' bench stacked with forwards, highlighting Australia's intentions to match England's massive pack.

"Most of our backs are fairly multi-skilled so we're confident about our lineup," Connolly said. "We've gone down that path in most of our games this year".

The Australians are slight favourites to win the match because of their superior form over the past year but Connolly remains wary of England's forwards and the deadly kicking of their outhalf Jonny Wlikinson.

The English have long been the masters of tight play and Connolly wants as many troops as possible to ensure his own backline gets a fair share of possession.

"England is a very dangerous team," Connolly said. "Their set piece has been their cornerstone for many years and they have incredible speed out wide and a number 10 who steers them around exceptionally well.

"When you look at our results through the pool games you'd have to say we're pretty happy with where we're at.

"But we're very conscious that we have to improve considerably on that to go any further in the tournament."

Berrick Barnes has been given the job of replacing Larkham and marking Wilkinson. Connolly said he had complete faith in the 21-year-old, who was uncapped before the World Cup but has been a revelation.

"We've been fortunate because Berrick was probably one of the last players picked for the tournament," Connolly said. "We thought he had the skills set and the mentality to be up to handle the pressure of the World Cup. We're quite confident with him."

Australia: C Latham; A Ashley-Cooper, S Mortlock (capt), M Giteau, L Tuqiri; B Barnes, G Gregan; S Moore, M Dunning, G Shepherdson; N Sharpe, D Vickerman; R Elsom, G Smith, W Palu.  Replacements: A Freier, A Baxter, H McMeniman, S Hoiles, P Waugh, J Huxley, D Mitchell