We got a visit from Paul Deacon on Wednesday. It was good to see him up and about after surgery, although his head still looks like a balloon.
 |  Whoever takes Lockyer's place will pose a different threat - and that's what we've got to be prepared for |
Apart from the physical damage he seemed fine.
The lads made a fuss of him and wished him a speedy recovery. He'll be at the game on Saturday so we'll have another chance to meet up.
It's do or die for us again this weekend but at least we've given ourselves a chance of making the Tri-Nations final.
I'm sure the Aussies thought there would be nothing resting on this game but anything can happen now.
It just proves what I've been saying all along; that there is not much difference between the three teams.
The Aussies will be without their captain, Darren Lockyer, at Hull but we all know that they have a conveyor belt of talent to call on. Take out one quality player and in comes another.
And whoever takes Lockyer's place will pose a different threat - and that's what we've got to be prepared for.
We kept our hopes alive of reaching the final with the 38-12 victory over New Zealand.
The big thing was to win the game, but to score that many points was outstanding.
We scored some great tries, our defence was very good and our play was pretty much error-free.
I think there is more to come, though, and we will need to improve if we are going to achieve what many thought was unthinkable a week ago.
| Calders was unlucky not to make the squad in the first place but he shone for England and has been given his chance |
I hope I've got a role to play. I've just got to make sure I do myself justice in training and hope Brian Noble picks me.
He will have to make at least two changes because of the absence of Deacon and Paul Wellens.
Brian Carney, who has shown his performance in the first game against New Zealand was just an off day, is also a doubt, so we'll have to see what happens.
My old club-mate Mark Calderwood has been called up as cover just in case Brian does not make it.
Calders was unlucky not to make the squad in the first place but he shone for England and has been given his chance.
MMIX
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