THE hopes of the home side rest on their heroes finding fluency as a team.

There can be no doubt that as individuals there are some world class performers who will be pulling on those red, white and blue shirts.

But if this is to be a winning series then the side has to defend together as an effective unit as well as attack with flair.

The performance of the pack could hold the key for the home camp.

Four of the players destined for the powerhouse have been plucked from losing Grand Finalists Bradford Bulls - a side noted as a mean machine.

Most eye-catching is probably 20-stone prop Paul Anderson. Nicknamed "Baloo" Anderson is anything but cuddly on the pitch and moving at pace can batter his way through any defence.

His team-mates Mike Forshaw, Stuart Fielden and Jamie Peacock will all be hoping for runs, but it is the lads who play on the Lancashire side of the Pennines who are likely to populate the pack.

Skipper Andrew Farrell of Wigan and St Helens' influential second rower Chris Joynt are names pencilled on to the starting sheet straight away, and in the front row hooker Keiron Cunningham, another Saint, is a must if he is 100 per cent fit.

The key choice for coach David Waite is how to employ another of Grand Final winners St Helens' major star - Paul Sculthorpe.

Sculthorpe started out as a second rower, and can be a play-maker from loose forward but he may well be employed in the half-backs to try and stoke up the British backs.

There are some exciting finishers in the GB camp but one man to keep an eye on is Martin Gleeson whose form this season in Super League for St Helens has been outstanding.

But the series could be won and lost in the middle of the field. The big question is can the home half-backs handle Stacey Jones.

The Kiwi skipper poses a big threat and whoever coach Waite lines-up against him will know they have been up against one of the modern greats.

Paul Deacon of Bradford, Castleford Danny Orr and Hull's Richard Horne are all up-and-coming youngsters who have impressed in Super League, but whether they have got what it takes to bottle up Jones will be a key factor in whether the home side can take this series.

Great Britain Squad

Paul Anderson...Bradford Bulls

Gary Connolly...Wigan Warriors

Keiron Cunningham... St Helens

Paul Deacon...Bradford Bulls

Andrew Farrell...Wigan Warriors

Stuart Fielden...Bradford Bulls

Mike Forshaw...Bradford Bulls

Lee Gilmour...Wigan Warriors

Martin Gleeson...St Helens

Richard Horne...Hull FC

Chris Joynt...St Helens

Barrie McDermott...Leeds Rhinos

Adrian Morley...Sydney Roosters

Terry O'Connor...Wigan Warriors

Danny Orr...Castleford Tigers

Jamie Peacock... Bradford Bulls

Karl Pratt... Leeds Rhinos

Leon Pryce...Bradford Bulls

Paul Sculthorpe...St Helens

Keith Senior...Leeds Rhinos

Kevin Sinfield...Leeds Rhinos

Chev Walker... Leeds Rhinos