One of the key facets of the Roosters' success in the NRL is their relentlessness, in attack by pressing, forcing repeat sets; in defence by really setting about teams with dervish.

Saints have done well to quell some of that, but it's at bite-point at the moment. Both teams grinding away.

The NRL side almost had Brett Morris in on the right side but he couldn't draw the ball in.

Luke Keary gives away a penalty on the back of the scrum, and Saints can spring.

Image source, PA Media

Saints go wide to the left side and Matty Costello finds himself isolated as the vulture-like Roosters defence converges on him.

He's bundled into touch.

That left-edge for Saints doesn't have a lot of game-time between them, as a unit in particular and it showed a bit then.

It was a really slick face-pass from Luke Keary to get Daniel Tupou in. Better take though. Stick-em hands.

The Roosters made some serious indentations in the Saints line there but the niggle between Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Alex Walmsley - which will not dissipate believe me - sees Saints get a penalty.

Sloppy from the Kiwi front-row.

Roosters carve some holes in the Saints line, it's heavy artillery being unfurled on the Red Vee.

Sitili Tupouniua was flopped on by Jack Welsby and it's a Roosters' penalty.

Relieving penalty as Saints prop Luke Thompson holds James Tedesco down in the tackle.

The kick is banged to touch and now the Roosters can have a proper dig at the Saints line...

Image source, Rex Features

Shots fired by St Helens, as Thompson bashes over.

Their approach so far has been pure aggression, pure power and pure energy.

They are ripping into the Roosters' forwards. How long can they keep this up for?

Jon Wilkin
Ex-St Helens forward on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Luke Thompson is just too strong near the line. What a start for Saints!

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves' arm strayed up high on Zeb Taia's chin and Saints get a penalty.

They're running it with venom. Alex Walmsley gets into a bit of fisticuffs with back-rower Victor Radley. That's going on as play continues.

Saints spill up the ball and the play comes to an end.

Jon Wilkin
Ex-St Helens forward on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

It's a packed house and there is an expectant St Helens crowd here to watch their team perform against the Roosters.

The atmosphere is building nicely.

Saints have a job on their hands tonight because the Roosters are going to come and bring it. They are going to come out of the blocks so hard and try to blow St Helens away.

Typical savagery in the opening set by both sides. The Roosters' first set of the game whizzed by in about 50 seconds.

It's going to be a trying pace at this rate.

We are off! Chris Kendall draws on his whistle. It's on.

Roosters bring it up off the kick-off.

It's a long way from sunny Bondi, with its fancy bistros and smashed avocado on toast breakfasts, to the chilly winds of St Helens and a full English at the local supermarket cafe.

Will the big-time Chooks be able to cope? Can Saints put the freeze on the Roosters?

Time will tell.

Here come the teams.

There floodlights are off, the lasers are on. It's World Club Challenge time!

We have a choice of listening for you this evening to accompany our live text coverage.

Scroll through the options at the top of the page and you can select from BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra or BBC Radio Merseyside commentary.

BBC Sport's rugby league correspondent Dave Woods and former Saint Jon Wilkin are in the commentary box for BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

The headline act of this season's Super League recruitment is at St Helens this evening.

Former All Black - and NRL-winning Rooster of course - Sonny Bill Williams is back in rugby league with Toronto Wolfpack and was part of the side beaten at Warrington last night.

Image source, Getty Images

Trent Robinson's work at the Roosters has been nothing short of phenomenal.

He guided them to the title in 2013, in his first season, and then overhauled the squad to build another champion team - enduring a miserable 2016 when the club finished second-bottom in the process.

The former Catalans coach has become spoken of in the same company of people like Wayne Bennett and Tim Sheens with his three National Rugby League premierships.

He can further cement his awesome reputation with another piece of silverware tonight.

Jay Freeman
BBC Sport at the Totally Wicked Stadium

Image source, PA Media

It is a seriously chilly night in this stadium and there's a fair amount of wind blowing into the ground, too.

This could be a match that's decided by which team can master these conditions.

I'm very glad I've layered up!

Image source, SWPIX.COM

St Helens have had their moments of glory in this competition too, even if they haven't been able to get over the hurdle of the Roosters.

Sean Long and Paul Sculthorpe were integral parts of the Saints sides that pulled off wins over the hugely dominant Brisbane Broncos in 2001 and 2007.

The Roosters are gunning for a fifth title in this competition, that would make them the most successful team in its history.

Their successes have come against just two sides - Saints twice, and Wigan twice. No side has defended this trophy, and that's a potential outcome for Trent Robinson and his Chooks outfit.