Australian captain Michael Hooper admitted to being nervous Friday on the eve of the Wallabies' Rugby World Cup quarterfinal with England, but said he welcomed the feeling ahead of the knockout clash.

Asked how he might help some of his less-experienced teammates handle the momentous occasion, the 98-test veteran said the heightened emotions around a big match were something to be embraced.

(Michael Hooper of Australia)[Getty/Kyodo]

"I can't speak on behalf of those guys, but I can speak on behalf of myself. Yeah, I'm nervous. But that's good, because it means you care," Hooper said. "That's just part of being a rugby player. You feel alive, you feel ready to go."

The youngest Wallaby, 19-year-old sensation Jordan Petaia, will take on increased playmaking responsibilities at Oita Stadium in just his third test.

Coach Michael Cheika has shown his confidence in Petaia by moving him from the wing to outside center to start the match. Hooper said the move was aimed at giving the talented Petaia more opportunities with the ball in his hand.

"He has been very impressive in the games so far with the fairly limited amount of ball," Hooper said. "At (outside center) he's going to get more of (the ball). I'm very excited for him."

Cheika has also rolled the dice by combining Will Genia and Christian Lealiifano in a new-look halves pairing as part of a starting XV showing five changes from their last pool match.

Genia and Lealiifano are Cheika's fourth different halves partnership at this World Cup. They have started together just once for Australia, in a 16-10 win against Argentina in July.

(Australia head coach Michael Cheika)

England -- led by former Wallabies coach and Cheika's arch rival Eddie Jones -- will be aiming for their seventh consecutive win against the Australians.

Despite being cut from similar cloth as former players for New South Wales and Sydney club side Randwick, there will be no love lost between the two coaches on Saturday.

Following a two-week layoff due to the typhoon-related cancellation of England's last Pool C clash against France, Jones will roll out a XV featuring three changes from the side which started their 39-10 win over Argentina on Oct. 5.

Ten of the starting XV also started in England's 37-18 win against Australia in November 2018.

Owen Farrell will start at flyhalf in place of George Ford, who moves to the bench.

England will start a pair of flankers -- Tom Curry and Sam Underhill -- who grew up idolizing their Australian opposite numbers Hooper and David Pocock.

Hooper said the Australians had done their homework on the young back-rowers and would not underestimate them despite their relative inexperience.

"It's great to have experience but also being youthful is of benefit. I have been in their shoes before, being wide-eyed, ready to attack things," Hooper said.