SAINTS centre Mark Percival is hoping the flashes he showed in England’s victory over Scotland, backed up by a strong week in training, will be enough to get the call for the must-win game against Australia.

In a game largely dominated by the big men rumbling up the middle, with passes wide as rare as hen’s teeth, fleet-footed Percival managed to score a well-taken try in the 38-12 win over the underdogs.

Whether that is enough to keep out Wigan’s Dan Sarginson, who played in the opening match, will be revealed tomorrow when coach Wayne Bennett picks his team.

Either way the 22-year-old centre is relishing his time in the England ranks which will add another notch of experience on to his belt.

Percival said: “It is class; it is a dream come true to just being around the likes of NRL players Sam Burgess and James Graham in training with let alone take the field alongside them.

“It is good to learn off them too.

“It is nice to get in the squad this year because I have had a few injuries and have struggled to get a lot of game time in (at Saints). But obviously Wayne Bennett has seen something in me and picked me.”

Although England eventually won comfortably after a turgid first half, they would have hoped to have rattled in more points with Australia posting a 54-12 scoreline the previous week.

New Zealand play the Scots on Friday night, so England will know exactly what they need to do to have a hope of making progress to the showpiece final at Anfield a week on Sunday.

Percival felt the team improved in the second half and now they need to carry that into Sunday’s clash at the London Stadium.

“We wanted to play hard and strong and, with the game coming up against Australia, we needed to compete better than we did in the first half.

“In the second half we showed what we can do if we do it from the off.

“We were lacking a bit of commitment and urgency in the first half but we showed that in the second.

“I was struggling to get into the game and was not getting too much ball with us rolling them down the middle in the second half.

"When I get chances I want to make the most of them but I thought a threw a bad pass there for Hally (Ryan Hall).

“The rest of my involvement I was quite happy with, and I will train hard this week and hopefully get a shout. All I can do is get my head down in training and if he picks me great.

“There is a lot of good talent in the team,” he said.

If Percival is selected he will come up against some of the cream of world rugby league - not least in the centre berths occupied by Justin O’Neill and the formidable figure of Greg Inglis.

It is not something that seems to over-awe Percival, rather it is an opportunity he would relish.

Percival said: “The Aussies are a class side, but we have to play more physical and harder instead of putting on fancy plays. We have to take it to them.

"I am looking forward to it – especially playing at that stadium against the world’s best.

“We will have to be at our best to beat them.”

With his Saints head on, Percival got a pitch-side view of two future teammates in the Scotland ranks last Saturday - and felt both would be more than useful additions at Langtree Park.

“I was impressed with both Adam Walker and Luke Douglas. Luke plays NRL and Adam Walker goes really well every week in Super League.

“They will be two good additions and will definitely add some strength to that middle alongside Kyle and Alex Walmsley.

“The backline will be looking good, too, with Jonny Lomax fit, Ryan Morgan coming in and Tommy Makinson slotting back on the wing it should be a good year,” he said.