George Ford is set to make way for Owen Farrell as England fly-half for Saturday’s opening Test against Australia at Suncorp Stadium.

Farrell will act as playmaker in chief at the expense of Ford, who missed six out of seven shots at goal in the recent rout of Wales and has suffered from a drop in confidence this season.

Head coach Eddie Jones has axed the player who started every match of this year’s march to the Grand Slam in favour of an Aviva Premiership and Champions Cup winner who has been in outstanding form for Saracens.

Farrell’s place at inside centre is expected to be taken by Luther Burrell, who was only called into the squad selected for the three-Test series against the Wallabies once Manu Tuilagi was ruled out by a hamstring injury.

In a surprise pick, Marland Yarde has been preferred on the right wing to Jack Nowell.