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James Tedesco is one of the most explosive full-backs in rugby league and his pace will be a major concern for Wigan's defensive line.

The 26-year-old was outstanding in his maiden season at the Roosters following a switch from Wests Tigers, with nine tries, 15 try assists, 15 line breaks and 158 tackle breaks in 2018. Dangerous.

Wigan are hoping to get the best out of Zak Hardaker following his return from a drugs ban and he's made a decent start to life in Cherry and White.

If he can rediscover his 2017 form, where he scored 11 tries and created 18 in helping Castleford to the Super League Grand Final, then his physicality and rugby brain will have Roosters defenders working overtime.

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Trent Robinson was at the helm for Sydney Roosters in 2014 to steer them to victory against Shaun Wane's Wigan Warriors.

There are a few survivors in both camps from that game, with Liam Farrell, Ben Flower and skipper Sean O'Loughlin among those in the Wigan squad for today's encounter.

Roosters are much changed but stalwarts like Jake Friend, Boyd Cordner and Daniel Tupou line-up today.

It was a comfortable win for the Chooks down under, with former centre Michael Jennings scoring a hat-trick, but Wigan showed their class with tries from Joe Burgess and now-Warrington flier Josh Charnley.

There's been a fair amount of change with regards to this match in the past few years.

Last year's match-up between Leeds and Melbourne Storm took place in Australia with the then-NRL Premiers reluctant to travel to the 'Old Dart' and interrupt their pre-season.

However, Sydney Roosters half-back Cooper Cronk thinks the annual World Club Challenge match will remain despite the criticism it's received.

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Sydney Roosters co-captain Boyd Cordner is living the dream.

Over the past two seasons, the wide-running back-rower has scored a World Cup-winning try for Australia, lifted the State of Origin title with New South Wales and hoisted the NRL premiership with the Roosters.

It would be easy to put the cue on the rack with that haul, but he's buzzing at the chance to add another honour to the Roosters cabinet.

"We just want to be better, individually I want to be continually better as a rugby league player, as a person," Cordner told BBC Sport.

"I'm never satisfied, I've always wanted more and never been complacent. This is no different, I'm excited, I'm looking forward to it."

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The last time these two teams faced each other, the Roosters beat Wigan 36-14 in front of 31,000 in Sydney but three years later, Cherry and Whites captain Sean O'Loughlin helped his side to victory over Cronulla Sharks.

Going into tonight, a new era at Wigan continues after the departure of Shaun Wane at the end of last season, with former Rooster Adrian Lam overseeing the hosts. But are they unfairly being tagged as the underdogs?

"The majority of the time with the NRL teams, whether it's home or away, they're coming in as favourites," O'Loughlin told BBC Sport.

"But the fact we've played a couple of Super League games already has given us an opportunity to blow off the cobwebs and that favours us a little bit."

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Adrian Lam has come in to lead his former club on an interim basis until Shaun Edwards comes in for 2020, but after Shaun Wane led the line at the DW Stadium for so long, what has it been like for the players to have a new boss?

"Under Shaun Wane I've known certain structures and he [Lam] has come in and changed a lot of things," Wigan back-rower Liam Farrell told BBC Sport.

"Terminology-wise it's been very different and to have that change is really good for me and made me look at the game a bit differently and think about it differently.

"He's been really passionate about being at the club and very open about how much he wants to be there. He wants to be successful as well."

Jay Freeman
BBC Sport at DW Stadium

We're being treated to a rousing course of AC/DC songs from a tribute band ahead of kick-off.

They aren't half bad and if I close my eyes, it's almost as if I'm at an actual AC/DC concert and hearing them belt out Back In Black.

It's filling up nicely at the DW Stadium and there's a cracking atmosphere. Hopefully we're treated to a fabulous game of rugby league, too.

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Sydney Roosters' 14th NRL premiership was a strangely-comfortable event, despite high-class opposition in the shape of Melbourne Storm.

It was won against the backdrop of the Roosters' big offseason signing Cooper Cronk - 16 years a Storm mainstay - battling a troublesome shoulder injury to guide his new club to Grand Final glory against his old pals - who were waving goodbye to veteran full-back Billy Slater.

Cronk's halves-partner Luke Keary was magnificent, as were the Roosters as a whole in dismantling Storm's title hopes, going in 18-0 up at half-time, following tries by Daniel Tupou, Latrell Mitchell and Joseph Manu.

Storm never gave up, eventually getting on the board through Josh Addo-Carr's intercept, but points from the boot steered the Chooks home as champions.

Such is the way that the World Club Challenge is scheduled, that some of the major protagonists from Wigan's Super League Grand Final success of 2018 are no longer with the club.

The emotional investment made by former head coach Shaun Wane, full-back Sam Tomkins and centre John Bateman to name but three of those who exited in the aftermath of a famous win.

Warrington came into the game desperate to avoid losing in both major finals, but despite scoring through ex-Warrior Josh Charnley - found Wigan too hot to handle.

It was fitting that Dom Manfredi, a player racked by savage injuries in recent years, was the hero, scoring two of the three tries, with fellow winger Tom Davies crossing for the other.

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Sydney Roosters, traditionally known as Eastern Suburbs as their roots lie in the city's eastern districts such as Bondi, Randwick and Paddington, have been in existence since the 'foundation' of the old New South Wales Rugby League in 1908.

The Tricolours - 'the boys in the red, white and blue' as the team song goes - are one of the most successful clubs in Australian rugby league with last season's National Rugby League premiership taking their tally to 14.

Among their legends? Dally Messenger - the man whose name adorns the medal for the 'best and fairest' in the NRL; Dave Brown, who also played for Warrington during the 1930s; Kangaroos great Artie Beetson; master-stepper Brad Fittler; ex-Hull FC enforcer Craig Fitzgibbon and long-serving full-back Anthony Minichiello.

The current crop could also make claims to that mantle... skipper Boyd Cordner is a star for club, state and country, Cooper Cronk is one of the greatest halves to wear the Easts colours, while Latrell Mitchell - missing to take part in the Indigenous All-Stars game in Australia - and New Zealand centre Joseph Manu are potential superstars for the future, and probably the now too.

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It's a really strong side for Trent Robinson's Roosters tonight, who really mean business in their bid to lift the World Club Challenge for a fourth time.

Cooper Cronk is over the shoulder injury, so he starts. New signing Brett Morris fills the gap left by Latrell Mitchell's decision to play for the Indigenous All-Stars in their win over the New Zealand Maori.

Notables include James Tedesco, a real threat; Kiwi centre sensation Joseph Manu and a powerful pack. Watch out for Mitch Aubusson, the ultimate clubman. Never lets anyone down.

Easts: Tedesco; Tupou, Manu, Morris, Ikuvalu; Keary, Cronk; Waerea-Hargreaves, Friend (c), Taukeiaho, Cordner (c), Aubusson, Radley

Interchanges: Liu, Tetevano, Collins, Butcher

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It's a strong side fielded by ex-Rooster and now Wigan coach Adrian Lam, with plenty of class across the side despite a few long-term injuries.

No Joe Burgess or Dom Manfredi, so it's down to Tom Davies and Liam Marshall to provide the strike out wide. Veteran lock Sean O'Loughlin will be key, linking with his halves and adding to the Cherry and Whites' middle strength against a physical opposition.

Also... keep an eye out for Joe Bullock off the bench. He'll be gagging to take it to the big Chookies forwards.

Wigan: Hardaker; Davies, Gildart, Sarginson, Marshall; Williams, Leuluai; Clubb, Powell, Flower, Greenwood, Farrell, O'Loughlin

Interchanges: Navarrete, Isa, Hamlin, Bullock

Welcome, and good evening.

This is what we've all been waiting for... the two best teams in the two biggest rugby league competitions in the world.

Excitement is guaranteed, top class footy is on our agenda.

We've got tons to get through, and want to hear from you too - #bbcrl on social media.

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Two great rugby league superpowers, two hemispheres, two smart coaches, two star-studded squads, two passionate sets of fans. One prize.

The right to call yourselves the best in the world.

Heritage, history, pride and talent runs through these teams like blood through veins.

Winning is in their DNA. We've got 80 minutes in which to decide this proper prizefight.