Image source, Getty Images

Australia boss Joe Montemurro says that there is an "extra special" feeling surrounding tonight's match at Pride Park. Montemurro managed Arsenal between 2017 and 2021, winning one League Cup and one Women's Super League title.

"To come up and play against one of the top teams in the world is an honour and, to be back in familiar surroundings, it’s extra special," said Montemurro in his pre-match press conference.

He added: "I'm sure they don’t want another negative result [after the defeat to Brazil on Saturday], so I'm sure they'll come out physically prepared and ready for a game.

"We'll make sure that we can adapt our ideas to make sure that we don't stray too much away from what we're trying to achieve, but also be aware of what threats England will cause."

Image source, Getty Images

Sarina Wiegman says that despite talk of Australia wanting "revenge" for their World Cup semi final defeat by England in 2023, both teams have moved on.

"I'm not really looking back at the World Cup semi-final. It was an incredible game [but] we have moved on and they have moved on," said Wiegman in her pre-match press conference.

There have been considerable changes to both squads, including retirements for Lionesses stalwarts Mary Earps, Rachel Daly and Millie Bright, while Australia have since welcomed former Arsenal boss Joe Montemurro as their new head coach.

Wiegman added, "I didn't think about it. I'm just really excited we play Australia again. They are a top-level team and they will challenge us in the way we want to be."

"Of course, it's a non-European team but so many players play against each other here in the WSL so they know each other really well."

BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

If you're out and about tonight but still want to keep across England's match against Australia then fear not, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra have got you covered.

Tune in from 18:50 GMT for build up and full match commentary from Pride Park.

England

Image source, Getty Images

It has been four years and five months since England last lost two games in a row.

Cast your minds back to April 2021, Norwegian coach Hege Riise was in interim charge after Phil Neville's decision to step down.

Before embarking on the task of leading Team GB into the Tokyo Olympics, Riise had two friendlies to navigate.

The Lionesses lost both: falling 3-1 to France in Caen before a 2-0 loss against Canada in Stoke.

Right, enough of that World Cup nostalgia. Let's focus on tonight's action.

We're around 20 minutes away from kick off, so that's plenty of time for you to grab a brew etc before kick off.

In the spirit of re-living that famous win for the Lionesses in Sydney back in 2023, we want to put your memories to the test.

Can you name England's starting XI from that game?

Head to the BBC Sport website to find out

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Australia vice captain Steph Catley says that while many things have changed for the Matildas since their World Cup 2023 semi-final defeat to England, the wounds are "definitely there".

"We're in a completely different stage now with our team - different coach, different players, different tournament," Catley told the media on Monday afternoon.

"But you can't help but remember past games when you come up against the same opposition, and that was probably one of the most heartbreaking games I've played in my career. There's definitely wounds there."

Australia had been aiming to reach their first major final, and on home soil, but England eventually ran out 3-1 winners in Sydney.

Arsenal defender Catley added, "But like I said, it's a fresh new project and a new challenge for us. They're a new-looking team as well. We’ll be looking to go after them and try and get a win."

England

England forward Beth Mead, speaking to ITV: "People want to come and watch us, selling out stadiums, so hopefully we can put the performances on to the sell-out now.

"I think we have to start games a little bit better than we have recently, so that's the main thing for us right now."

On facing Arsenal teammates and former boss Joe Montemurro: "I have seen him. I've seen him around the facilities at St George's, obviously a lovely man and I really enjoyed playing under him but yeah, enemies today, as are my Arsenal teammates, we say friendlies but they're not very friendly. We're here to win and here to be competitive."

On if Australia will be looking for revenge after the World Cup semi-final loss to England in 2023: "I'm sure they'll be looking for it but we have to stand strong, put a good performance on and get the win."

England midfielder Ella Toone says it will "feel like a revenge game" for Australia when the sides meet at Pride Park this evening.

The last time the two sides met England beat Australia in the 2023 Women's World Cup semi-final in Sydney to shatter the hosts' hopes of reaching their first-ever major final in front of their home crowd.

Lindsay Johnson
Ex-Liverpool defender on 5 Sports Extra

Playing Brazil [and Australia] means you get to play a team from a different continent who play a different style.

These games are so important to England in their progression and preparation for the World Cup.

Australia

Australia are unbeaten on their travels to England.

An 84th minute header from Clare Polkinghorne snatched a 1-1 draw for the Matildas at Craven Cottage in 2018, while a Sam Kerr toe poke and a header from Charlotte Grant sealed a 2-0 win at G-tech Community Stadium in 2023.

Image source, Getty Images

Lionesses fan Kayleigh Alymer, speaking on BBC 5 Live Breakfast: "We started quite slow on Saturday and we gave ourselves a bit of a mountain to climb. Second half we dominated which you'd expect as down as they went one player down.

"I think it's gong to be a tough game tonight. Australia are always growing, whenever we face them they are getting better and they have a lot of players over her in the WSL, so it is going to be a tough game. We're playing over here, it's a sell-out and the crowd always get behind the girls and that does help them. Hopefully, it'll be a win."

Image source, Getty Images

There's plenty of recognisable faces among the Australia squad this evening with 11 of the 24 player list currently plying their trade in the Women's Super League:

• Chelsea = Sam Kerr, Ellie Carpenter
• Arsenal = Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross
• West Ham = Katrina Gorry
• Tottenham = Charlotte Grant, Clare Hunt
• Leicester = Emily van Egmond
• Everton = Clare Wheeler
• London City = Alanna Kennedy

Four more Matildas (Mackenzie Arnold, Teagan Micah, Courtney Nevin and Hayley Raso) have played in the WSL in recent years, while head coach Joe Montemurro also spent four years in charge of Arsenal.

Image source, Getty Images

We're expecting a capacity crowd at Pride Park this evening after the FA announced earlier this week that tickets had sold out.

After being told the news ahead of her pre-match press conference, England midfielder Ella Toone said: "For women’s football to sell out stadiums is still a ‘pinch me’ moment. We love the fans. They’ve got bigger and better and louder as the years have gone on.

"It’s something that we’re really proud of as players that we can go to different stadiums around the country and sell them out."

With so many WSL based Australia players we can likely expect a big fan turnout for the visitors too.

We want to hear your thoughts on all things Lionesses tonight.

What do you make of that lineup from Sarina Wiegman? And what do you think the side need to change after that defeat to Brazil on Saturday?

Get in touch above and make sure to add your names to the end of your messages. It's nice to know who we're speaking to!

Image source, Getty Images

It was a disappointing homecoming for Sarina Wiegman and England last time out as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Copa America champions Brazil in Manchester.

Dudinha and Bia Zaneratto put the visitors 2-0 up inside 18 minutes before Angelina received a straight red card as Ella Toone threatened to run clear.

Georgia Stanway then halved the deficit from the spot after half time but the back-to-back European champions were unable to find a leveller against Brazil's tireless defensive performance.

The Lionesses will be aiming for a better showing against Australia in the second leg of their four-part homecoming series tonight.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Pride Park

It's definitely an experimental England side from Sarina Wiegman as she gives senior debuts to Lucia Kendall and Taylor Hinds.

Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton returns after missing the Brazil defeat with an elbow injury.

Chelsea and England's 2025 top-scorer Aggie Beever-Jones starts in attack, alongside Alessia Russo and Beth Mead.

It looks like Manchester United captain Maya Le Tissier is starting at centre-back.

England XI: Hampton, Bronze, Hinds, Walsh, Le Tissier, Morgan, Mead, Kendall, Russo, Toone, Beever-Jones.

Subs: Charles, Keating, Stanway, Greenwood, Carter, Kelly, Kearns, Agyemang, Blindkilde Brown, Moorhouse, Fisk, Naz.

Joe Montemurro makes five changes to the Australia side who beat Wales 2-1 on Saturday.

Chelsea's Ellie Carpenter, Arsenal's Steph Catley and London City's Alanna Kennedy come in, as do goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold and midfielder Amy Sayer.

Teagan Micah, Kaitlyn Torpey, Courtney Nevin, Clare Wheeler and Hayley Raso drop to the bench.

Australia XI: Arnold, Heatley, Hunt, Catley, Foord, Kennedy, Sayer, Gorry, Kerr, Carpenter, Cooney-Cross.

Subs: Nevin, Vine, Wheeler, Torpey, Micah, Raso, Aquino, Grant, McNamara, Siemsen, Rankin, Heyman.