The Wigan hooker wants his World Cup colleagues to remain cool and collected when their keenly-anticipated clash with Papua New Guinea opens the 2008 World Cup tournament.

Kumuls coach Adrian Lam – an ex-Warriors player and coach – has called on his players to match the heat of Townsville with some hot action of their own at the Dairy Farmers Stadium.

But Higham believes that a calm and unflustered approach will see England through.
He said: "We've all been told that it's going to be really hot.
"This is a place where the average October temperature
is around 28 degrees, but apparently it's the humidity that we've got to look out for.

"It's definitely the kind of game where the players need to pace themselves.
"It's going to be torrid for 20 minutes at least, but our boys need to come through it.
"Whatever the conditions, we're ready to play and we're ready for this game."

Higham praised the foresight of the England coaching staff who encouraged several players – himself included – to train in specially heated chambers in Leeds and Liverpool before they flew Down Under.
Higham added: "That was hard work, but I reckon it's going to be worth it."

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