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James Tedesco is probably the stand-out player in this Roosters outfit, with his turbocharged pace, balance and elusive running game.

However, alongside him is a side which has all the components of a champion team.

You want power and aggression? Jared Waerea-Hargreaves brings it. Tough, ball-playing? Victor Radley's your man. Towering leaps and spectacular tries? Daniel Tupou. Play-anywhere versatility? Mitch Aubusson.

One secret weapon might just be Angus Crichton. He's an off-loading back-rower with plenty of punch. A very different threat to the exited Latrell Mitchell, but a threat indeed.

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One player who will be high up on the Sydney Roosters' tip-sheet will be St Helens front-rower Luke Thompson, who is following in the footsteps of another bulldozing Saint - James Graham - by heading to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2021.

The 24-year-old has been a real hit in Super League, his mix of footwork, mobility and prop-forward power keeping defences on their toes.

He will be up against two fearsome front-rowers, in Kiwi enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Tongan goalkicker Sio Siua Taukeiaho. Alongside Alex Walmsley, it will be some slugfest up front.

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While St Helens are already up and running in the Super League, the National Rugby League down under doesn't get under way until mid-March, so this will be the Sydney Roosters' first hit-out of the new campaign.

Their ambitions are simple, make it a hat-trick of NRL titles in a row. That said, Trent Robinson and his players have taken this competition extremely seriously. They sent an inexperienced, experimental squad to the Nines in order to prepare at 100% for their trip to the northern hemisphere.

There have been changes at the Chooks though, since their hard-earned Grand Final win against Canberra Raiders last season. There is no Cooper Cronk on the field, he will be up in the stands as part of the coaching staff instead.

Nor is there Latrell Mitchell, who after a contract saga of an off-season headed for the Roosters' biggest rivals - South Sydney Rabbitohs.

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St Helens have been an outstanding unit for two seasons now, and finally snared the silverware to back up their promise with the Grand Final triumph in 2019.

Ex-Roosters assistant Justin Holbrook departed for the NRL having delivered that trophy, and he has been succeeded by Tonga coach Kristian Woolf.

The onus is on Woolf, who opted against adding to his squad in 2020, to pick up the baton. His first dig at a major honour comes against the Roosters tonight.

Much of the side that beat Salford at Old Trafford, and indeed dominated the Super League last term, is available tonight. Full-back Lachlan Coote - himself a winner with North Queensland - misses out, as does Wales wing-wizard Regan Grace and centre Mark Percival.

The left-edge is going to be tested.

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There have been 13 wins apiece in this contest since it's inauguration in 1976, but that stat doesn't quite tell the recent story of the dominance enjoyed by the NRL.

Since 2008, when Leeds beat Melbourne Storm, there have been just two Super League wins for Leeds over Manly in 2012 and Wigan against Cronulla in 2017.

Not even northern hemisphere advantage has helped too much, as only two of those defeats came in the southern hemisphere - Wigan in 2014, and Leeds in 2018.

Saints have talismanic skipper James Roby back in the side, while Regan Grace and Mark Percival are replaced in the three-quarters by Matty Costello and James Bentley respectively.

Jack Welsby has impressed at full-back in 2020, and he's entrusted to go up against James Tedesco at full-back in Lachlan Coote's absence.

Roosters boss Trent Robinson has moved back-rower Angus Crichton to the centres after Latrell Mitchell's exit, and brought in Kyle Flanagan to fill the boots of Cooper Cronk.

No skipper Boyd Cordner either, and Sitili Tupouniua replaces him. He's been part of Kristian Woolf's Tonga squad, so he'll be familiar.

St Helens: Welsby; Makinson, Naiqama, Bentley, Costello; Lomax, Fages; Walmsley, Roby, Thompson, Peyroux, Taia, Knowles

Interchanges: McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Lees, Paulo, Smith

Roosters: Tedesco; Tupou, Crichton, Manu, Morris; Keary, Flanagan; Waerea-Hargreaves, Friend, Taukeiaho, Tupouniua, Aubusson, Radley

Interchanges: Verrills, Liu, Butcher, Collins

Welcome to the World Club Challenge.

It's the best of hemispheres, the pride of Super League against the creme of the NRL.

Let's have a look at the teams.

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Fast forward 44 years, and these two famous clubs meet again, this time on the opposite side of the world.

St Helens and the Sydney Roosters, dominant forces in their respective competitions, will again face off for the right to call themselves the world's best.

Twice before the teams have met, and twice it has been the Tri-colours who have scooped the prize.

Third time lucky? It will take some doing.

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It all started at the famous Sydney Cricket Ground in 1976.

Eastern Suburbs were the reigning champions of the old ‘Sydney Premiership’, while St Helens the best of the British game.

Administrator Harry Sunderland had come up with the idea of testing the best of north and south, and finally, his dream came to fruition.

Hard, ferocious and skilful legends like Arthur Beetson, Bill Mullins, Tony Karalius and Kel Coslett led the way, coached by legends of the game in Jack Gibson and Eric Ashton.

On the famous turf, the Roosters triumphed. Most importantly, the seeds had been sown for the World Club Challenge.