Men in the middle ready for the ultimate Test on Ashes stage

Australia's Grant Atkins and England's Liam Moore will be compared according to pre-determined performance markers to determine who controls the potentially Ashes deciding third Test at Headingley.

The Rugby Football League on Monday confirmed Moore would take the whistle for the series-opening encounter at London's Wembley Stadium, with Atkins - who will arrive next week - in the centre for the return bout at Liverpool's Hill Dickinson Stadium on November 1.

This sets up a potentially contentious appointment at Headingley on November 8, particularly if the series is drawn. Similar situations in State of Origin during the 1980s and 1990s - when the state leagues and not the NRL did the appointments - drank gallons of newsprint.

But the RFL has claimed the decision will be as scientific as possible, a spokesman explaining: “After the second Test, the relevant officials from the RFL and the NRL – Phil Bentham and Jared Maxwell – will decide the appointment of the officials for the third Test. 

"This will be determined by a number of performance measurements to be agreed in advance.”

As to whether the respective officials errors would be tallied, the RFL had no response.

It was also announced that golden point would be used to separate the teams if the series and third Test are tied after 80 minutes in Leeds, which would be to be an Ashes first and a rarity for a bilateral three-Test series in rugby league.

The Kangaroos trained in drizzling rain at a new venue for the tour, Harrow School, on Monday.

Coach Kevin Walters and his opposite Shaun Wane will name their squads late Tuesday with Walters saying he would list the players in order despite only being required to submit an alphabetical 21.

Both coaches and a selection of players will attend the series launch at Wembley, where the crowd on Saturday is expected to easily exceed 60,000.

Australia have struggled over the years at the world famous North London venue when playing England or Great Britain, losing the opening Test of the 1973, 1990 and 1994 series there along with a 1995 World Cup pool match defeat.

The 1992 World Cup final team and 1997 Super League side managed victories.

Asked why the venue had repeatedly been a banana skin for the men in green and gold, Walters said: "Well, it's a big stadium and it's full of mostly English people.

"The challenge for us is to understand the situation that we're facing and then just play the football that we're capable of.

"I was on both those (1990 and 1994) tours and I feel like we didn't play our best football and if you don't play your best football, you put yourself in a position to be beaten. This team is no different."

Having drilled the Kangaroos on the latitude in the ruck allowed by British referees, assistant coach Willie Peters will share his knowledge of opposition players, gained during 100 games in charge of Super League champions Hull KR.

"There's players that these guys wouldn't have seen before, so hopefully I can give them an understanding of what they're about," said Peters.

Peters said England would be "passionate and physical so we have to make sure we match them in those two areas because there's enough talent within this group that's for sure".

Before the tournament launch, the Kangaroos will be guests of honour at Australia House.