Australia and Wales take their first step on the long road which they hope will lead to World Cup glory when they meet at Sydney's Telstra Stadium on Saturday.
The countries have been drawn in the same group at this year's showpiece event in France, so they are hoping to gain an early psychological advantage at the venue where the 2003 final was played.
The Wallabies are the favourites to win the first test after Wales left 18 of their best players at home - and the omens are not good for the visitors. They finished second-from-bottom in this year's Six Nations Championship and have not beaten Australia away from home since 1969.
But the hosts have plenty of problems of their own. Australia may have played in three of the previous four World Cup finals, winning two of them, but they have been struggling in recent few years.
Coach John Connolly has spent the past year experimenting with different combinations, but is still no closer to finding the perfect blend of youth and experience.
He has already made some bold decisions. Veteran scrumhalf George Gregan, in his final year of international rugby, has been stripped of the captaincy and relegated to the bench.
Openside flank Phil Waugh will lead the side, and Matt Giteau is the new scrumhalf, although Connolly has made it clear that Gregan will get at least one last chance to press his claims to the No 9 jersey. - Reuters
TEAMS IN SYDNEY
Australia: Julian Huxley, Mark Gerrard, Stirling Mortlock, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Drew Mitchell, Stephen Larkham, Matt Giteau, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (capt), Rocky Elsom, Mark Chisholm, Nathan Sharpe, Guy Shepherdson, Stephen Moore, Matt Dunning. Bench: Adam Freier, Benn Robinson, Dan Vickerman, Stephen Hoiles, George Smith, George Gregan, Scott Staniforth.
Wales: Lee Byrne, Gareth Thomas (capt), Jamie Robinson, Sonny Parker, Chris Czekaj, James Hook, Mike Phillips, Jonathan Thomas, Gavin Thomas, Colin Charvis, Rob Sidoli, Brent Cockbain, Iestyn Thomas, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones. Bench: Richard Hibbard, Ceri Jones, Michael Owen, Scott Morgan, Gareth Cooper, Ceri Sweeney, Gavin Henson.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan.