After suffering defeat in all three clashes with New Zealand back in June, Stuart Lancaster's side hoped a return home for the November internationals would improve their fortunes.
However, back-to-back losses - 24-21 at the hands of the All Blacks and 31-28 to South Africa - mean you have to go back to a 52-11 win over Italy at the end of the Six Nations in March for their last triumph.
Lancaster has made five changes from last weekend's game against South Africa, with George Ford selected to start at fly-half and Owen Farrell moving to inside centre.
Ben Youngs replaces Danny Care at scrum-half, Rob Webber takes over from Dylan Hartley as hooker and James Haskell and Ben Morgan come into the back row alongside captain Chris Robshaw.
Following their sequence of defeats, Robshaw sees Saturday's clash as a chance to revive England's flagging fortunes.
"It's very important to get back on the horse," he said. "That's the great thing about sport, we've got this weekend to go out there and put it right.
"It's a huge challenge coming our way with the Samoan guys but it's one all of the guys are looking forward to. We know what to expect.
"At this level you are judged on results and in the previous five games we haven't got what we wanted, but we've made huge strides forward, I believe.
"There's confidence in the guys, positivity in the squad and we can't wait to get out there and do it again."
For the visitors, the build-up to the game has been overshadowed by talk of a boycott as a row between the players and the Samoan Rugby Union rumbles on.
That threat was soon withdrawn and, although the situation is yet to be resolved, captain David Lemi insists Samoa have not become distracted by off-field matters.
"This team is special, it is different from any team I have been involved with," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"In this team we are family, we are brothers.
"All our focus is on England. We have prepared really well, and it's up to us to translate that preparation to the field.
"If we execute our plan well, it gives us a chance."