The pundits may have been out in force once again predicting success for Great Britain over Australia, but Bradford's international prop Stuart Fielden isn't buying into the hype ahead of Saturday night's clash at the City of Manchester Stadium.

"Last year was tipped as the best time to beat them and yet again it is being said this year. We are not buying into that," said Fielden.

The withdrawal through injury of Kangaroo skipper Darren Lockyer and goal-kicking loose forward Craig Fitzgib-bon has seen hopes of a British victory rise, but Fielden admitted to mixed feelings over the absence of the key duo.

"We want to do it on our own terms, not by people being injured or anything like that. We want to be the best team, not just beat the Aussies on an off day," he said.

"You'd like all the best players to be playing. You wouldn't wish an injury on anyone. But obviously it is a bonus. They are two of the people who lead their team and without them they would be less effective, but only marginally when you look at who they can bring in."

An ever-present for the Bulls this season, Fielden said his body was in surprisingly good shape despite the rigours of a 32-match campaign.

"I'm feeling really good, touch wood. I've no real injuries to speak of, which, after a long season, I'm more than happy to be in the state I am. I'm raring to go."

However Britain would be at a disadvantage having not had a warm-up match for the Test, he said.

"I think it is a little bit unfair on us to go into a game against the world champions after they've already played two Tests. My experience is that we always play better the more games we play. Players who don't normally play together will get better as they go along, so playing the Aussies after they've had two games is very unfair on us. But we are looking past that. Hopefully we'll go in fresh and it will just come together for us."

And the Aussies are bracing themselves for a close-fought battle.

With three points safely secured from their matches with New Zealand, the Kangaroos will clinch a place in the November 27 final if they win on Saturday.

But coach Wayne Bennett is expecting the issue to go down to the wire, just as it did in all three matches of last year's Ashes series, eventually won 3-0 by the tourists. "When the Australian team came home last year, they all realised how fortunate they were to win the series," said Bennett.

"They all realised how much the British game had advanced and, from the bit I've seen this year, if you didn't know it was Eddie Hemmings on the TV and just watched the football, you would think it was an Australian team playing.

"There's not a great deal of difference and we're expecting the competition to be very close, based on last season in particular."