By Martin Morgan

Last updated 13:40, Friday, 10 October 2008

Rob Purdham expects to move within one match of full fitness when he makes his full England debut against Wales in their World Cup warm-up tonight.

The ex-Whitehaven star, right, who will be on the Australia-bound plane with the rest of the England squad on Monday, has not played for his Super League club Harlequins for almost five weeks, since their season ended.

But he has been working with England boss Tony Smith’s train-on squad and is raring to go in Doncaster, where he will start at loose-forward. “Obviously I’m not match fit, but I’ve trained since I finished playing,” the west Cumbrian told News & Star Sport. “You can lose your fitness, but it’s all right as long as you keep ticking over and have a decent base.

“A couple of games back and I should be back at full fitness. I’ll get rid of a few cobwebs against Wales.

“I’ll be a bit nervous, but I’m like that before every game.

“It keeps you on your toes, and when we get to the warm-up I’m fine.”

Tonight’s match was arranged to provide match practice for the England players, such as Purdham, whose commitments with their clubs ended several weeks ago.

Of the eight featuring tonight who are named in Smith's 24-man World Cup squad, only acting captain Martin Gleeson is thought to be certain of a place in the line-up to face Papua New Guinea in the opener in Townsville in two weeks’ time.

And Smith hinted that places were up for grabs tonight.“

There are some players who can enhance their reputations or diminish their reputations,” said the coach. “It’s important for them to perform well.”