League: Onus on Tonga's forwards to ease pressure on young halves Atat Hingano and Tui Lolohea

Tonga's forwards need to step up to provide halfback Ata Hingano with more room to move against England. Photo / Photosport.

Assistant coach David Furner says Tonga's forwards must dominate their England opposites to give their young halves room to operate in Saturday's Rugby League World Cup semi-final in Auckland.

Tonga's big men struggled to gain the ascendancy in Saturday's 24-22 quarter-final win over Lebanon and halfback Ata Hingano and five-eighth Tui Lolohea found themselves unable to wield as much influence as they had done throughout their three pool matches.

Furner believes ball control will be paramount and says it will be up to the likes of star lock Jason Taumalolo and front-rowers Andrew Fifita and Sio Siua Taukeiaho to provide a better platform for their playmakers to work off at Mt Smart Stadium.

"Our completions are very important this week. I know England are a very high completing team, so like any halves behind a dominant forward pack they're going to be successful," said Furner.

"So for our two halves, our forwards have to be nice and aggressive and start chewing up the metres so that they can start to have a bit more space and time."

Tonga were expected to account for Lebanon easily but struggled to get up for the occasion after two physically and mentally taxing wins over Samoa and New Zealand.

With a place in tournament final on the line there is no shortage of motivation this week and the Kristian Woolf-coached side know they need to be at their best to get past an England side led by tough and skilful forwards Sam Burgess, James Graham, captain Sean O'Loughlin and scheming hooker Josh Hodgson.

"They are one of the top first tier teams and we're under no illusions - we know it's going to be a tough game," said Furner.

"They've got some very good players and they've been very consistent throughout the tournament.

"I know they had a narrow loss in their first game against Australia but it was one of those games that could have gone either way.

"The likes of Sammy Burgess and Hodgson around the ruck, they're pretty classy players."

England are also bracing for a torrid forward battle and are similarly intent on improving their ball handling after completing just 57 per cent of sets in their 36-6 quarter-final win over Papua New Guinea on Sunday.

Hodgson was full of praise for Hingano's skill and ability but agrees the result will ultimately be decided in the middle.

"They've got some great players and he's another one who's put his hand up and he's representing his nation really well," said Hodgson.

"He's a great young player and he's really stood up and is leading them around the park really well and putting his best foot forward.

"The forwards is obviously going to be a big battle as it is in every game. If you don't win the middle you're going to be struggling to win the game and especially against Tonga.

"We know we need to be a lot better than what we've been in previous weeks and we're just really concentrating on improving ourselves."

Meanwhile, England coach Wayne Bennett is confident both Burgess (ankle) and five-eighth Kevin Brown (concussion) will be fit to play despite the pair sitting out Wednesday's training.

"[Sam] hurt his ankle a little bit, but he is not going to be an issue either. They will all train Friday," Bennett said.