England’s first-ever rugby league international against Scotland will feature the human pinball against the machine.

Scotland coach Steve McCormack compares Saturday’s (Sunday AEDT) historic game in Coventry to Australia’s State of Origin which pits “mate against mate” and that rivalry is illustrated by the duel between Warrington winger Matty Russell and his club captain Chris Hill.

“We all know Matty,” said England prop Hill. “He’s a human pinball.

“Matty and I didn’t really talk about facing each other during the season, it was when we were having a drink after the Grand Final that it was mentioned.

“A few challenges were laid out too and it’ll be interesting when he’s making a kick return. I can’t really say what those challenges were, I’ll just leave them alone.”

Irvine-born Russell, who will win his seventh cap for the Bravehearts, has no doubt that Hill is the man Scotland must stop if they are to pull off a shock.

“He’s just a machine, isn’t he?” Russell said. “He’s a forward in a back’s body.

“He’s got that engine and work-rate. He’s definitely carried our team this year for Warrington. He picked up all the accolades at Warrington and I think he should have been in for Man of Steel.

“He does the hard yards and long minutes and he always seems to step up. He thrives on the big stage and loves playing with the Burgess boys and the best players in the world, it gives him that extra buzz.”

Scotland’s best hope of forcing victory will be for their forwards to create the platform for skipper Danny Brough to put England under pressure with his master tactical kicking.

The veteran Huddersfield half-back played for England against the Exiles in 2012 but never got to win a cap and McCormack insists his ambitions lie solely with Scotland.

“Playing for England might have been an ambition of his a couple of years ago but he is totally committed to us,” McCormack said.

“He might add a little spice on Saturday and will be ready for it more than anyone. His thoughts are all on Scotland, he is not bothered about England in the slightest. It is important that Broughie leads us well because he is a world-class talent.

“He is buzzing around camp. I thought he showed some really good signs last Friday that he is up for a big tournament.”

The England-Scotland game will be followed by holders New Zealand’s clash with Australia in the second part of the double bill at Ricoh Arena.