Newcastle-bound forward utility Chris Heighington has been recalled to the England side for Saturday's Rugby League World Cup 2017 final against Australia in Brisbane.

The 34-year-old veteran of 317 NRL appearances will play his seventh and most important match for his adopted league nation from the bench, with St Helens skipper James Roby elevated into the starting line-up to replace injured hooker Josh Hodgson in the only change to the England squad.

Heighington played off the bench in England's opening two games against Australia in Melbourne and Lebanon in Sydney.

England team to face Australia: Gareth Widdop, Jermaine McGillvary, Kallum Watkins, John Bateman, Ryan Hall, Kevin Brown, Luke Gale, Chris Hill, James Roby, James Graham, Sam Burgess, Elliott Whitehead, Sean O'Loughlin (c). Interchange: Alex Walmsley, Thomas Burgess, Ben Currie, Chris Heighington. Reserves: Jonny Lomax, Scott Taylor, George Williams, Mark Percival.