ENGLAND head coach Eddie Jones has “high hopes” for Ben Te’o after the centre “cut it at the highest level of rugby league”.

The 29-year-old, who has signed for Worcester Warriors, is being fast-tracked into England's squad for their three-Test series against Australia.

Te’o is in contention to start the opener in Brisbane on Saturday at inside centre and Jones has no doubts about the player’s ability at the highest level.

Jones believes exposure to the annual three-match State of Origin rugby league series between Queensland and New South Wales offers a telling indicator in the likelihood of a successful change of code.

"There is a massively high correlation between those who have been successful Origin players and then made a really good fist of rugby," said Jones.

"If they haven't done that there's a huge correlation with them being average rugby players. That's why I have high hopes for Ben Te'o. He's cut it at the highest level of rugby league.

"Playing Origin means you can cope with the physicality of the most physical game in the world and you have the ability to handle the pressure of Test rugby situations.

"I saw one clip where Ben took the ball to the line and threw a short pass after carrying through the line on his previous play.

"He can mix it up with a good short-passing game and can off-load in contact like a more athletic version of (former Australia centre) Rod Kafer. He can hit."

Te’o has been taken under the wing of skills coach Glen Ella, a former Wallabies full-back, but Jones believes that he has already proved himself during two seasons at Leinster.

"Rugby league is not a skilful game, it's a game where you've got to hurt people,” said Jones.

"Tough guys like Te'o bring something extra to a squad, a bit of an intangible, plus he's done the hard yards in 50-odd games for Leinster."