And Slipper says the chance to take on England this weekend is the perfect preparation for the "pool of death" next year as the Wallabies attempt to end their spring tour on a high.

The Wallabies have slipped to fifth in the world rankings, winning just one of their past six Tests and having to deal with off-field drama.

But beating England would give them a psychological edge 10 months out from their World Cup battle at Twickenham.

"We've had the opportunity to play [England and Wales] on this tour and gauge where we are," Slipper said.

"We've had Michael Cheika [as coach] for four games and we're very new into the way he wants us to play. The way we've improved has been a positive sign.

"We've had our ups and downs this year. You know Australians, we like to back the underdog and I'm sure we are the underdog coming into next year's World Cup.

"But in saying that we're doing the work. We've got that goal in the squad that we want to be the first country to win three [World Cups], for us that's our priority."

The Wallabies are grouped with England, Wales, Fiji and Uruguay at next year's tournament with only two teams to advance beyond the pool stages.

The Australia-England clash was so popular that organisers could have sold out the 82,000-seat venue eight times with tickets in more demand than the final.

England beat Australia in the World Cup final in 2003 when Slipper was still at high school on the Gold Coast.

"It was a long time ago, but it makes it more special when you play them. My debut was against England and we'll meet in the pool of death at the World Cup next year so hopefully we can make amends.

"Coming up against England this weekend is a good test for us to see where we're at."

The last time the Wallabies lost three Tests in Europe, coach Eddie Jones was sacked.

Instead they are focused on taking small steps to rebuilding a game plan in time to be a genuine threat at the World Cup in England and Wales next year.

The set piece has been scrutinised for the past month after conceding a scrum penalty try against Wales in the opening Test of the tour.

England's World Cup winning coach Clive Woodward has urged the team to target Australia's forwards to ensure they get their own World Cup boost this weekend.

"Against Australia, the game plan is simple, Woodward wrote in The Daily Mail.

"Total dominance at the set piece, which is still the Aussie Achilles heel. Boss the scrums, rule the lineouts, bring into play those rolling mauls … and win the big collisions.

"England have got to completely 'smash' them up front. Thankfully they have the players to do it.

Cheika also believes there's a perception that the Wallabies are physically soft in the middle of the field and says the players can change that with their actions on the field.

But loosehead prop Slipper says what the Wallabies lack in size, they make up for in passion.

"Looking at us we're probably not that intimidating, but the heart of the players in the team is massive, we'll do anything to get a win for the team," Slipper said.

"We're extremely disappointed with losing [to Ireland last week] but we are on the improve and we feel we're starting to play the game Cheika wants us to play.

"We were a bit inconsistent with the scrum again … at times I think we've been physically dominant and we're going to have to match England in that this week."