FORMER Bulls star Thomas Burgess admits it feels strange to be the only one of the four brothers in the England squad.

Steve McNamara's men are gearing up for their three-match Test series against New Zealand and Burgess looks set to play a key role.

The South Sydney star is the only member of the Burgess clan currently on duty as Sam has crossed codes, Luke was not selected and twin brother George is recovering from hip surgery.

Thomas said: "I'd rather have George here, if I'm honest – but we are seen as one person sometimes. That's what happened when we changed clubs as well.

"Towards the end of last year, I played on my own for Souths and it has just carried on from that with England now."

Burgess scored a first try for his country in last week's warm-up win over France and is expected to feature off the bench again in Sunday's opening Test against the Kiwis at the KC Stadium.

An overdue series win for England is the aim and Burgess stressed: "That's what we're here to do.

"We know that New Zealand are number one in the world and are going to be a tough team – but we're going to be doing everything we can to win the series."

Older brother Sam, meanwhile, has been linked with a return to rugby league after being made a scapegoat in some quarters for England's disastrous World Cup union campaign.

Thomas said: "I've been asked this a few times but at the end of the day, Sam will make his decision on what he wants to do.

"He's still at Bath for the next two years and he doesn't regret what he's done.

"Living in Bath is very different to living in Dewsbury. But Sam likes to do different things, be spontaneous and take up different challenges."

Sam, the superstar of the Burgess family, made a cross-code switch to Bath in the aftermath of Souths' 2014 Grand Final win. Luke has since joined Manly but the family unit remains very close.

"George and I live together – he has bought a house and I've moved in with him," said Thomas.

"We live next door to Luke and we're a very close-knit family. Luke is over the fence with his little girl and my mum Julie isn't far away either.

"It's just Sam who is not living in Australia at the moment. But we speak every day about life generally and he's good."