Keiron Cunningham is confident Great Britain will not be left to rue their slow start to the Gillette Tri-Nations Series.

The Lions hit their straps in convincing fashion with a record-breaking 38-12 victory over the Kiwis at Huddersfield on Saturday to revive their hopes of reaching the final.

They will now take on Australia in Hull on Saturday knowing that a victory by at least three points will take them through to Elland Road on November 26 and turn Loftus Road into a distant blur.

"We've got better each week," said Cunningham, who has made an impressive return to Test-match rugby after a three-year absence.

"It just shows if maybe we had had a trial game under our belt, it might have made a difference in the first game against New Zealand."

The form of winger Brian Carney mirrors the dramatic improvement in the team as a whole as he continued his rehabilitation, as Britain beat their previous best score against the Kiwis on home soil.

"Brian is a world-class player," said Cunningham. "He was pretty scratchy in the first game but, exorcised all his demons against New Zealand.

Stuart Fielden, Paul Deacon, Keith Senior and surprise packet Chev Walker also touched down as Britain raced into a 38-4 lead but they were forced to defend desperately after a crop of injuries caused a series of re-shuffles.