McNamara facing the biggest test of his career

Victories down there are few and far between. For every glorious Sydney '88 or Melbourne '92, there are another 10 sorry tales of embarrassing proportions.

England have not won a series on Australian soil for 40 years and so it was, as the 2010 England squad flew out of Manchester Airport bound initially for Auckland last night, that the customary feeling of unease and discomfort descended.

However, given the fresh youthfulness of Steve McNamara's group – average age 25 – and a littering of some of the domestic game's most exciting talent in generations, allied to the impressive strides made last year, there is a smattering of hope this time.

At first glance, England's chances of success in the Four Nations look to be severely disrupted by the absence of so many pivotal players through injury.

Four of the squad that featured in last year's Elland Road final – and who were almost certain to have been in McNamara's first-choice 17 this time – have been ruled out.

Undoubtedly, despite their obvious strength up front, the loss of captain Jamie Peacock has been a real hammer blow as has that of stand-off Danny McGuire, who has enjoyed the season of his life at Leeds Rhinos.

But for his own knee surgery, he could have provided a mouth-watering combination with the similarly electric Sam Tomkins, the splendid Wiganer who is the most exhilarating British talent unearthed since Ellery Hanley.

Rhinos captain Kevin Sinfield had also finally found himself a niche in international football last year with his effective contributions from hooker but he, too, is missing along with scrum-half Kyle Eastmond, the Saints tyro, whose pace Australia clearly struggled to deal with 12 months ago.

However, those same Australians have endured their own issues, having seen a galaxy of stars withdrawn, including their own magical No 7 Jonathan Thurston, leaving coach Tim Sheens to announce the depth of the NRL will be tested "big time" and England and New Zealand will "see a fair chance to get us".

He is, of course, being magnanimous. Despite four centres of world-class calibre – Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Jamie Lyon and Michael Jennings – being sidelined, Sheens can still afford to leave out the brilliant Mark Gasnier and Matt Cooper. He will not be suffering too many sleepless nights and how McNamara must wish for such conundrums.

It is a long-held fact that England's abject lack of world-class three-quarters remains the biggest obstacle in their pursuit of greatness yet McNamara has had to watch one of his few dangerous options, Warrington's Chris Bridge, stay at home for the birth of his first child.

It is not all doom and gloom though. Undoubtedly, the difference in last year's final was the class, athleticism and outrageous skill levels of Australia's superior backline.

Impressive England had forged ahead three times during that pulsating showpiece and trailed just 22-16 heading into the last 13 minutes before a breathtaking flurry of four tries, inspired by the magical talents of Billy Slater, Jarryd Hayne and Inglis decided the outcome.

It was noted then that England, whose forward might with the burgeoning Sam Burgess, Gareth Ellis and James Graham was never doubted, would only be able to overcome their fierce foes once they developed some quick, athletic backs of their own.

However, McNamara does already have better tools at his disposal than predecessor Tony Smith. The emergence of Gareth Widdop, Slater's deputy at Melbourne, has brought a new attacking dimension to the full-back slot previously occupied by the solid but unspectacular Shaun Briscoe.

Likewise, Hull KR's Peter Fox has been replaced on the wing by young Tom Briscoe, who has the physique and technique more fitting of the Aussie prototype, as has Huddersfield's Leroy Cudjoe.

At centre, Ryan Atkins will never admit to being the most gifted footballer but he is a genuine athlete with immense strength, a real strike threat who, like so many of McNamara's squad, is an unknown quantity to their opponents, having missed 2009 through injury.

Back to the forwards and Darrell Griffin's raw power could see the uncapped prop make the same impact as Huddersfield team-mate Eorl Crabtree did last year, the surging front-row who would not be contained by the Australians, while another Giant, pocket-dynamo Luke Robinson, is well-suited to springing more surprises whether it be from hooker of scrum-half.

Vibrant New Zealand are England's first test and the reigning world champions will still be smarting from the defeat inflicted at the Galpharm that cost them a place in last year's Four Nations showpiece.

Papua New Guinea, with the colourful Stanley Gene now in charge, will be as committed as ever but England's need to overcome Australia, as always, will prove crucial, offering McNamara the biggest challenge of his entire career.

Four nations schedule

October 23: New Zealand v England, Westpac Stadium, Wellington.

October 24: Australia v Papua New Guinea, Parramatta Stadium.

October 30: New Zealand v Papua New Guinea, International Stadium, Rotorua.

October 31: Australia v England, AAMI Park, Melbourne.

November 6: England v Papua New Guinea, Eden Park, Auckland.

November 6: New Zealand v Australia, Eden Park, Auckland.

November 13: Final, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.