Michael Cheika is expecting England to try and "bully" his Australia side on Saturday with their half-backs set for plenty of rough justice.
Australia are unchanged for Saturday's clash at Twickenham and despite Eddie Jones crowning the Wallabies as the form side in world rugby, Cheika expects plaudits to be left at the door when the two teams take to the field.
Cheika has warned his half-backs Bernard Foley and Will Genia to be prepared for late hits, but stopped short of labelling it an illegal tactic.
"They are a big, strong and powerful side. They will try to bully us. Traditionally that's the way the game has gone," Cheika said of England. "They try to bully us at scrum, at the line-out and at the ruck - trying to get into us, niggle, trying to get into our half-back after he passes, the 10 after he passes.
"There is so much footage of that. They wait for us to crack. The fact they are unified behind that strategy means we must look them in the eye and take them on if we are going to be able to resist them."
Jones did not bite in response to Cheika's comments and the Wallabies coach will not seek a pre-match meeting with New Zealand referee Ben O'Keefe to highlight these tactics.
"If you get away with it it's legal isn't it?" Cheika said. "We like to take the game to the line. There is always a danger of that happening when you play the game at the line like that."
Jones has challenged his England side to bring plenty of punch on Saturday and that starts with their pack.
"We want to physically dominate Australia who are playing a physical juggernaut sort of game," Jones said. "They're probably the most physical side in the world and we want to show we can dominate them up front. They've got back into [winning] in international rugby, got on to the front foot and are the form team."
Cheika's comments were a rare spark in an otherwise cordial week between the England and Australia camps. Stephen Larkham labelled England "spoilt", but bar that rare poke above the parapet, there have been few verbal grenades flung into either camp.
"Maybe we have not got as much depth or we haven't got the resources of an England but there is a lot of love in the team," Cheika said. "They love playing footy together, they love being on tour together, they are fighting hard for the small things.
"There is not a game in any sport between Australia and England where there is not high stakes. I am not a huge cricket fan but when the first ball in the Ashes is bowled I will watch it."