For Bulls prop Rob Parker, tonight's England A clash against Australia at Brentford represents more than just a chance to test himself at the highest level.

Parker might feel some unfamiliar sensations when the match kicks off at 8pm. For starters, he'll be standing up, which is almost uncharted territory for a player who has been on the field from the start in only four of his 47 appearances for the Bulls.

Parker was an ever-present for the Bulls this season, appearing in 32 matches, but he found himself squeezed out of the squad for the finals clashes with Leeds and Wigan.

Although he would have been disappointed to miss out at the business end of the season, tonight's start represents the steady progression of a player whose career has been on the up over the past two seasons.

Before this year, Parker had made only 15 appearances for the Bulls, all as a sub, in the three seasons since he signed from Leigh East in 2000. An impressive showing on loan at London and some solid game-time for the Bulls saw him picked for the England A side that went down to the Kiwis 34-12 at Brentford last year.

This season saw Parker elevated in coach Brian Noble's thinking and he repaid that faith with six tries during the triumphant Super League campaign.

Parker is joined in the England A pack by second-rower Lee Radford, who scored ten tries in 33 games for the Bulls this season, which included a bench appearance in the Grand Final.

The pair team up with four players from the Wigan side that went down to the Bulls in the Grand Final.

Stand-off Sean O'Loughlin continues as skipper of the side after doing so last year against New Zealand and on the Pacific Tour.

He is joined by club mates Shaun Briscoe, Martin Aspinwall, Danny Tickle, Danny Sculthorpe and Gareth Hock.

Yorkshire Origin half back pairing Chris Thorman and Rob Burrow are joined by fellow Yorkshireman Matt Diskin at hooker.

The England A side are chock-full of Super League talent yet boast an average age of just 21.

England A: Shaun Briscoe (Wigan); Marc Calderwood (Leeds); Martin Gleeson (St Helens); Martin Aspinwall (Wigan); Ade Gardner (St Helens); Chris Thorman (London); Rob Burrow (Leeds); Andy Lynch (Castleford); Matt Diskin (Leeds); Rob Parker (Bradford); Danny Tickle (Wigan); Lee Radford (Bradford); Sean O'Loughlin (Wigan) (c).