AUSTRALIA coach Tim Sheens claims next Saturday’s Gillette Four Nations clash with England has become a must-win game.

In an alarming development for England’s tournament hopes, they must face a Kangaroos side smarting from the weekend’s brutal 20-20 draw with New Zealand.

The competition’s overwhelming favourites required a last-gasp try from Cameron Smith and conversion by Johnathan Thurston to prevent the inspired Kiwis from repeating last year’s dramatic World Cup final upset.

Australia entered the Four Nations without a warm-up match and Sheens has warned England, 34-12 winners over France, they will be more polished in Wigan on Saturday.

“The one point keeps us in the running but it also makes next weekend’s game very important to us,” Sheens said.

“England have the win and we don’t, so we need to beat them next Saturday. There’s an element of pressure on us.

“Drawing with New Zealand woke us up if there was any complacency, though I’m not saying there was.

“It has shown to us that this is going to be a hard tournament and we’re not the favourites the bookies say we are.

“Having said that there’s still a lot of improvement to come from us.

“We won’t offer any excuses, but we’ll be better for this.”