Coach Tim Sheens admits the pressure is on his Kangaroos as they seek to keep their Four Nations hopes alive.

The Australians face a must-win match against England at Melbourne’s AAMI Park on Sunday as they attempt to keep alive a 40-year record of rugby league excellence.

Sheens concedes their tournament-opening loss to New Zealand last Saturday has put his men behind the eight ball.

England beat Samoa in the other game on the Brisbane doubleheader.

“It is still a Test match in a tournament we have to win and every time we play a tournament we have to do the same thing,” Sheens said.

“But it is always nice to have the first win, which we haven’t got, so the difference is obviously we are under some pressure because we didn’t win last week’s game and England have won theirs so the issue for us is the pressure is placed squarely back on us.

“England want to win they don’t have to win, we have to, New Zealand would want to win (against Samoa) but they don’t have to.”

Four-time premiership winner Sheens is calling for controlled desperation from his side.

The Kangaroos haven’t missed the final of a major tournament since the 1954 World Cup.

“There is an element of desperation we have to have but the problem with that is it can get very frustrating if you push too hard and the errors start flowing,” Sheens said.

“Because of the desperation you can be in a bit of trouble.

“You have to be careful, it is still a matter of executing, there will be plenty of energy from the team I can assure you that but it is a matter of executing just to carry the ball and getting to your kick and a good kick chase and turn England around.”