LIAM Hood has been too busy to give Leigh Centurions’ Super League return much thought.

Even the prospect of facing former club Leeds Rhinos second game up next season has been of secondary importance to the Centurions’ hooker.

Having achieved one of Scotland’s high spots in their Ladbrokes Four Nations opener against Australia-a massive hit on man-of-the-match, Matt Moylan- it is England next-up for Hood and Scotland at Coventry on Saturday.

“It just gets better and better,” says the proud Braveheart. “To stand there with your team mates, singing the National Anthem, I will treasure it forever.

“Now the England game is a big one for us. After all they are our neighbours so we are all looking forward to it,” grins the 24-year-old Bradford-born forward.

“It should be a great occasion with all four teams playing in the same stadium on the same day.”

Realistically, the fixture represents Scotland’s best chance of registering victory in the competition while England can’t afford to be on the end of a giant killing after losing their opening game, 17-16 to New Zealand at Huddersfield last Saturday.

A mini bus full of the clan is expected at the Ricoh Arena to cheer on Hood whose grandparents were born in Scotland.

And he hopes there is more to cheer following Scotland’s 54-12 dismantling by Australia at Hull KR’s KC Lightstream Stadium.

“We always knew it was going to be tough against the Aussies,” he explained.

“They speak for themselves as a team. They have world class players and we struggled at times with the game speed.

“Our defence was also a bit loose and you can’t give teams like Australia that kind of room.

“Once you are on the back foot they are a hard team to cope with.

We struggled slowing them down and then when we had the ball we weren’t smart enough.”

Scotland had already shipped four tries when Hood felled Kangaroos new boy Moylan with a stunning tackle.

“I just threw my body in front of him and hoped for the best. But it was a good ‘un,” he acknowledged.

“And that game will live with me forever. There were a few players in the press who gave us some disrespect “So, we wanted to go out there and give it a good go. And everyone from 1-17 did that.” Ex Leigh favourite, Ryan Brierley, touched down for one of the Scots’ two tries.

*The 14th and final place at the 2017 World Cup will be decided tomorrow night (Friday) when Italy and Russia meet at Leigh Sports Village, kick-off 8pm. The winners will go into a group containing Fiji and the USA.

Last weekend Italy squandered home advantage, losing 20-14 to Wales in Monza while underdogs Russia went down 70-16 against Ireland.