Prop Fa'asavalu has a suspected broken hand while second-rower Wilkin sustained facial bruising during England's 52-4 mauling by Australia in Melbourne on Sunday.

While Wilkin is expected to be available for the semi-final - which is almost certain to be against the Kiwis a week later - Samoa-born Fa'asavalu is awaiting a specialist's report and is in danger of being ruled out of the tournament.

''His scans have been sent to a specialist in the UK and the doctor is waiting for his reply as to what action needs to be taken but we do feel there is a fracture in one of his fingers,'' said coach Tony Smith.

''Sometimes if those fractures are not dislodged or displaced, they can play on. If there is some displacement, it may mean something further.''

The loss of Fa'asavalu, who was on the bench for both England's pool matches so far, leaves Smith's squad with just three specialist props but the coach is confident Jamie Peacock, Adrian Morley and James Graham can carry the fight to the Kiwis.

''We're going with three specialist props this week, with no intention of anybody else playing there,'' he said. ''However, they can if need be. We've got some players who can play that position.''

Scrum-half Rob Burrow has recovered from an eye injury and winger Lee Smith is poised to return after missing the Kangaroos game with a foot injury.

''Lee is fine,'' said Smith. ''He trained well yesterday and again today and I'm sure he will be a name up for selection.''

With little riding on the outcome of Saturday's game, Smith may be tempted to rest some of his players and give run-outs to the fringe members of the squad but he was today giving little away.

Speaking from the team's hotel on the outskirts of Newcastle, Smith said: ''In all honesty, we haven't decided entirely yet.

''We're watching them in training and we're watching their reactions.

''We've got some ideas but we don't want to make decisions straight away. We're considering some things and we want to see who has reacted well.

''We have to consider whether to add some fresh people in there to freshen things up.

''As to whether we rest somebody this week, we're not sure yet. We're taking a bit of time with it and we'll probably have another training run before we decide. If somebody is looking tired, we'll give him a break.

''We're not being cagey. We need to perform well this week.''

England have been berated by the media both back home and in Australia but Smith is adamant that there were positives to take from his side's record World Cup defeat to the Kangaroos.

''We've reviewed it and we won't forget it by any means but you hope to learn from it,'' he said. ''We've learnt some pretty good lessons this week and I'm sure we'll be better for it.

''The scoreline wasn't pleasant for any of us but there were plenty of good things. There were periods of time when we physically dominated.

''After they went 12-0 up, we camped at their end of the field and we needed to convert that into points.

''Some of our edge defence was a bit soft - we're working hard to rectify that - but our defence in the middle area of the field improved drastically from the previous week.

''It gives us some hope because the amount of improvement around the ruck area, which we've always been vulnerable at, we were very good at.

''We were exceptional at the speed of the play-the-ball. What we need to do is put that together with some great edge defence.''