Rising star Lawes relishing the opportunity to tackle Wallabies in second Test showdown

The dynamic 6ft 7ins Northampton forward has replaced Simon Shaw in the second row as one of two changes made by manager Martin Johnson following England's 27-17 defeat in Perth.

Lawes is joined in the side by Leicester scrum-half Ben Youngs – he replaces Danny Care – just 12 months after they lined up together for the England Under-20s in the Junior World Cup final.

Johnson, who is under growing pressure, made the changes to inject some pace and energy into England's game after a leaden first Test performance.

Lawes proved he has the physical attributes – lineout agility, athletic ball-carrying and ferocious defence – when he eclipsed Paul O'Connell in Northampton's Heineken Cup victory over Munster.

The 21-year-old also harbours a streak of toughness, which is one of the qualities Johnson demands from his forward pack, and he is relishing the chance to tackle the Wallabies.

"I'm not sure where the aggression comes from," said Lawes, who made his Test debut off the bench against Australia in the autumn.

"It's all mental, it's in your head. Some players mentally don't want to put their heads in where they're going to get hurt. Some players like me are not too fussed.

"I am not a dirty player. I'll put my body on the line for my team. I've always been like that. I've always had not much concern for my body.

"I like making big hits but so does everyone. I probably do find making a good hit as satisfying as scoring a try.

"I definitely feel ready. I feel very confident in myself. Over the last year I have got a bit wiser, I know how to get into the game better and make a bigger impact."

Youngs is also set to make his first Test start after a breakthrough season helping Leicester win the Premiership title and he will bring a sharpness around the base of the scrum.

"I've played with Courtney for a number of years now and it's great that he's starting as well," said Youngs, whose father Nick won six caps at scrum-half.

Australia: J O'Connor; D Mitchell, R Horne, M Giteau, D Ioane; Q Cooper, W Genia; B Daley, S Faingaa, S Ma'afu, D Mumm, N Sharpe, R Elsom, D Pocock, R Brown. Replacements: H Edmonds, J Slipper, M Chisholm, M Hodgson, L Burgess, B Barnes, A Ashley-Cooper.

England: B Foden (Northampton); M Cueto (Sale), M Tindall (Gloucester), S Hape (Bath), C Ashton (Northampton); T Flood (Leicester), B Youngs (Leicester); T Payne (Wasps), S Thompson (Brive), D Cole (Leicester), C Lawes (Northampton), T Palmer (Stade Francais), T Croft (Leicester), L Moody (Leicester, capt), N Easter (Harlequins). Replacements: G Chuter (Leicester), D Wilson (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps), J Haskell (Stade Francais), D Care (Harlequins), J Wilkinson (Toulon), D Armitage (London Irish).