England are set to include six new faces in their team to face New Zealand on Saturday in their final group match which is a dress rehearsal for the World Cup semi-final a week later.

Although coach Tony Smith has yet to announce his line-up, he has made it clear he intends to use his full 24-man squad before the knockout stages.

Smith's twin aim is to keep some of his front-line players fresh for the last-four clash and give his fringe men the chance to press their claims for selection, especially after last Sunday's 52-4 mauling by Australia.

That means a big chance for centre Paul Sykes and forwards Ben Westwood, Rob Purdham, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Mickey Higham and Jamie Langley.

Already ruled out through injury are St Helens forwards Maurie Fa'asavalu, who is to have surgery on a broken finger which has ended his tournament, and Jon Wilkin while stand-off Leon Pryce, who has a rib problem, is among the players Smith is unlikely to risk.

Smith has decided to rest James Graham, James Roby and Ade Gardner, who all appear to have cemented their semi-final places.

''We're going to finalise the team tomorrow but what I can say is that we're making sure we're putting fit and healthy people out there,'' said Smith.

''There will be quite a few new faces, some due to knocks and injuries, but I also want to give some people an opportunity to show what they can do.

''We want to create some competition and we're keen to give a shot to all the players who haven't had one. Some of them may be in different positions to what they have been used to.

''Some of these boys have been sitting there for a couple of weeks and now they've got their opportunity.

''They've been terrific in training and shown tremendous team spirit. I expect they'll be jumping out of their skins and bring a lift to the team with their enthusiasm.''

Smith has revealed Westwood and Gareth Hock, who both play for their clubs in the second row, will be used up front in the absence of James and Fa'asavalu, which left him with just two specialist props.

Jones-Buchanan, another back-rower, will also provide some relief for Jamie Peacock and Adrian Morley if necessary but Smith is relaxed over the enforced switches.

''It's where Ben and Gareth defend every week so there is no change defensively, it just means they attack a little tighter to the ruck,'' he said.

''Aside from that, packing down in the front row with uncontested scrums, I think they will be okay.

''The intention was always to use those guys at some stage if called upon. It's part of their versatility which you have to have in a squad of 24.

''In terms of size, they're as big anything in our team. They're big boys and very mobile so it adds to the way we like to play.''

The coach has confirmed his namesake Lee Smith and Mark Calderwood will be the wingers but will not yet reveal which of them will mark the dangerous Manu Vatuvei.

''I'm just not going to help the Kiwis too much,'' he said.

Although the outcome of Saturday's match at Newcastle's EnergyAustralia Stadium will have no bearing on the make-up of the semi-finals and he is clearly experimenting with his team, Smith insists there is much at stake.

''They're playing for a position the following week but they're also playing for their country,'' he said.

''There is no such thing as a 'dead rubber' in international rugby. There's a lot at stake - pride and credibility and all those things.''

Smith has reiterated his belief his side were not as bad against Australia as the scoreline suggested and there has been an over-reaction to the result.

''We took a kick in the tail but we re-grouped and went through the review process,'' he said.

''They were very clinical and some very knowledgeable people think that's the best performance by Australia for 15 years so we were up against a white-hot team.

''There were things we felt we did very well. We controlled the ruck better than I've seen it controlled by a British team by far.

''If we put in a good performance this week, we'll be fine. That builds confidence and team cohesion.

''We've dropped one of our last eight and it was against the world champions so it's not all doom and gloom.

''We don't have to be quite at our best yet but we're building towards it.''