Some strong renditions there among the England players, notably from Chris Heighington who might be Aussie-born but has clearly learned the words.

Image source, Getty Images

The teams are out, there's a light show and fireworks blazing across the sky.

Australia and England are ready. Kick-off is just minutes away.

Anthems underway, puff those chests out!

Image source, Getty Images

Although officially kick-off is 10:00 BST, we never get to these things quite on time with all the pomp and circumstance.

There's an opening ceremony going on right now, so you might even have time to get yourself another cuppa before we see any players heading out of the sheds and onto the pitch.

Jamie Peacock
Former England captain on BBC Two

Having been around the team over the last couple of weeks, there is the belief that they are good enough to beat Australia.

I am sick and tired of watching the clips of Great Britain's last win over Australia in 2006. This England side is a far better team.

Wayne Bennett has installed belief in the side and has been there and done it. They has given the players simple tasks to execute.

England's performance is key. The side let themselves down when they played Australia in London last year but if all players go nine out of 10, we will win.

Superb scenes...

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Image source, Getty Images

Few people outside rugby league will have heard of Josh Hodgson.

However, the dynamite hooker has made himself one of the first names on the team sheet for club and country.

He left Hull KR as a good player and has become an even greater one in the National Rugby League with the Canberra Raiders.

Full of running out of dummy-half, full of tackling and a smart passer, Hodgson's 'get up and go' will be a key feature of England's play in tandem with James Roby.

Image source, Getty Images

It's building out there now, fans streaming in. There is a sense of anticipation as we edge towards kick-off. Butterflies kicking in yet?

Each nation appearing at the World Cup will be represented at the opening ceremony by a personality involved in the sport.

It's an impressive line-up, which includes Garry Schofield (England), Ruben Wiki (New Zealand) and the injured Johnathan Thurston (Australia), who at least gets to grace this tournament in some shape or form.

For those of you who are interested, Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan is the entertainment.

BBC Two

Former Australia half-back Brett Kimmorley: "England need to get close tonight, they need to get their own belief.

"There is the Australian rookie forward pack v England's experience and the 10 interchanges will help with fatigue too.

"England have lots of players in the NRL, they have the best from the Super League and this is the best England side I have seen for a while.

"If they can win the battle in the middle, they will go a long way to winning the game."

Ben Currie is in for England, after Alex Walmsley is ruled out by a virus.

Australia stick with the 17 they announced earlier in the week.

Australia: Slater; Gagai, Chambers, Dugan, Holmes; Morgan, Cronk; Woods, Smith (c), Klemmer, Cordner, Gillett, Trbojevic

Interchanges: Graham, McLean, McGuire, Frizell

England: Lomax; McGillvary, Watkins, Bateman, Hall; Widdop, Gale; Hill, Hodgson, Graham, S. Burgess, Whitehead, O'Loughlin

Interchanges: Currie, Heighington, T. Burgess, Roby

Image source, Getty Images

You know you're a good player when other people call you Turbo, even if it's down to your name.

Jake Trbojevic, one of two brothers in the Australia squad, plays loose forward for the Kangaroos this morning while his equally explosive sibling Tom will have to wait for his World Cup bow.

The Manly Sea Eagles back-rower made 894 tackles in the 2017 season and scored nine tries. He also has a Bachelor degree in Management, Sports and Exercise and is a self-described "humble work horse". Nowt wrong with that.

Robbie Hunter-Paul
Former New Zealand international on BBC Two

If England beat Australia, you definitely think they will top the group. From my point of view, England has a real opportunity to ambush them in their own back yard. New Zealand did that in the 2008 final because the Australian media were telling everyone how great they were and how they were going to win the final.

Wayne Bennett will be saying they need to give it a go, but if they take a loss here they can get them again at another opportunity - in the final.

Image source, Swpix

Image source, SWPIX.COM

Feeling the nerves? Why not quell that anxiety by doing BBC Sport's Rugby League Cup quiz?

It's as fiendishly tough as trying to tackle an eel-like Shaun Johnson... but more fun. So why not give it a whirl?

Click here to play.

Ben Gledhill: Still concerned about Bateman in the centres. No point having Gale & Widdop creating chances if backs can't finish them

Michael: Should be a great game of rugby and a good opener.

Ashley Palmer: Come on boys @England_RL, external . Get off to a start that will make the whole tournament positive and one to remember

Ann: Pot of tea, toast #RLWC2017, external - Friday morning sorted

Does Friday morning get any better than that last tweet?

Kevin Sinfield
Former England and Leeds captain on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

"I don't think they are [as strong as in 2013], they're missing one of the stars in Johnathan Thurston, and lost a big front-rower who's gone to play for Tonga in Andrew Fifita.

"Australia will build into the tournament and get better as they go, however it's 22 years since England were in a final.

"We got close to making the final in 2013 but the last play of the game we're beaten by New Zealand. It wasn't meant to be that day but this time around, we need to make a final."

Image source, Getty Images

This morning's mouthwatering match-up is just the start of a veritable rugby league banquet that runs all the way through November before finishing on 2 December.

So what can we expect? BBC Sport's Paul Fletcher has put together the ideal one-stop shop guide.

Click here to read it.

We love to see supporters travelling to a tournament on foreign soil and getting stuck into the festivities ahead of the tournament...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Big Mal has played down any talk of a feud though.

It would be a shame for two men who first worked together at Souths in Brisbane and went on to do the same for Canberra and Queensland to fall out.

Image source, SWPIX.COM

When England sought a successor to Steve McNamara after the 2015 series win against New Zealand, they went for a man whose record stands up to anyone in the game.

Wayne Bennett, known as 'The Supercoach' for his unbeaten haul of seven premierships, agreed to combine his role as Brisbane Broncos head coach with the international role.

His opposite number this morning, Mal Meninga, was given the Australia job after leading Queensland to dominance in State of Origin.

It was an appointment which caused some awkwardness between the pair, as Bennett was also linked to the vacancy after Tim Sheens' exit...

Here is your 30 minute warning to kick-off.

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Mark: I agree with Sinfield. It's hard to sort the left centre spot. Do you pick Bateman, Currie, or - controversially - a centre

Jamie watling: Come on then England!! #bbcrl, external

James Doe: Brilliant opening to #RLWC2017, external on @BBCSport, external! Great humour from @markchapman, external. Have a good one guys and girls.

For what it's worth Mark, I agree. Castleford's Michael Shenton should have been a shoo-in as a form specialist centre.