Sensational stuff from the hosts!

Have they just broken the deadlock? We go to video replays...

Referee Liam Moore blows for a Wigan penalty.

The hosts will have their first attacking raid from this. Can they make the most of the positioning?

Kevin Brown
Former England international on BBC Two

They are so patient, Penrith Panthers.

That's what they've done for years. They trust the process. They try and put you in the corner and make you come up with the error.

Image source, Getty Images

It's the second time that Harry Smith has had to kick out of his own half.

Penrith are battering the line, time and again.

Dylan Edwards is wrapped up by Wigan's Jake Wardle, just when it seemed like the Panthers full-back could punch through a gap.

Adrian Lam
Leigh coach on BBC Two

It's that strangle mentality they (Penrith) have. Look at the statistics - they are the best defensive team. They have some great superstars and they've shown over a long time that they can shine that through. They've got a great leadership style and a great style of rugby that they can play.

After the unsure start, Wigan steady themselves with their second set and kick deep to really release pressure.

These two sides both excel when it comes to completing their sets.

Penrith had the best rate of doing so in the NRL last season, getting through them 81% of the time while Wigan were joint best with a 79% competition rate, which was equal to that of Huddersfield Giants.

Image source, Getty Images

Lee: Introducing my Scottish mate to RL tonight with the World Club Challenge, so hopefully it’s a cracker of a game!

Paul Rowley
Salford Red Devils head coach on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

That's what we call a start. It was Liam Byrne that had the pleasure of the first carry. As I predicted, no handbrake at all but he was met with some steel from Penrith.

Strong start - two big sides, two physical sides. Great opening.

Wigan are pegged right back on their line in these first two minutes, but they manage to keep Penrith out.

Panthers's Jack Cole is collared on the last tackle.

Immense from the hosts.

It's an early knock-on for Wigan Warriors and it leads to a flare of tempers.

Willie Isa looses his cool. And Penrith have their first chance about 10m from the line.

Image source, Getty Images

And off we go!

Who will claim club rugby league's greatest global honour tonight?

The two sides have just emerged from the tunnel.

A roar rings out around the ground.

The DW Stadium is packed to the rafters, pre-game fireworks have gone off and smoke hangs over the field, adding to this wonderful atmosphere.

Kick-off is just minutes away.

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Matt Newsum
Commentator on BBC Two

What a night stands before us.

There's a cracking buzz about the DW Stadium. Fans are excited, they've been flooding in wearing cherry and white.

Penrith are well represented too, plenty of partisan support for them from NRL fans in this country.

I expect it won't just be pre-match entertainer Heather Small belting out the hits tonight. It's going to be physical.

Wigan are the last English side to have won the World Club Challenge on home soil, with their victory over Cronulla in 2017 earning them a fourth title.

Their first came in 1987, and was quickly followed by a second at Anfield in 1991 when they overcame the Penrith Panthers.

Frano Botica, who slotted six kicks in the win, picked up the player of the match award.

Their 21-4 triumph that day more than three decades ago remains the biggest win they have had in this showpiece event.

Penrith Panthers are lapping up what it means to be 'three-peat' NRL champions.

A documentary charting their success goes by the title of 'Undisputed'.

And their mantle of being undisputed Aussie rugby league champions is irrefutable, but that is not something they can claim on a global stage.

Last season they were turned over by St Helens in the World Club Challenge on home soil. Fair to say it was an upset.

Actually, Penrith have the worst record of any team in the World Club Challenge.

They are the only side to play in this cross-competition showdown more than once and have failed to win.

"It's one thing that we haven't been able to do," head coach Ivan Cleary said.

"Only 12 teams have actually won this thing - we've had three goes at it in our history and missed out last year.

"It would be nice to be the first Panthers team to get one. If you look at the history, it's big clubs like Roosters, Wigan, Melbourne Storm, Leeds and St Helens that have won.

"To join that list would be pretty cool."

Jamie Peacock
Former England captain on BBC Two

Image source, Getty Images

It's going be a huge challenge for Wigan today.

This is not a normal NRL Championship side, I reckon it's the best one we've seen in the last four years. It's a huge challenge, it's like a Test match.

It's a great Wigan side. They're dogged, they're resilient, they're gritty. These are all characteristics that you need to win World Cup Challenge games.

Wigan Warriors captain Liam Farrell didn't mince his words when talking about the task that faces the Super League champions at home tonight.

To quote the iconic catchphrase Australian rugby league used a few decades back, which was of course belted out by Tina Turner, Penrith Panthers are 'simply the best'.

Winning a 'three-peat' of titles elevates a side to such heights. Before them, none had achieved three consecutive titles in the NRL era.

"To have the opportunity to play the best team the NRL has ever had is very exciting to us," Farrell BBC Radio Manchester.

"We're sold out at the DW Stadium which is unbelievable. We probably take it for granted now.

"Wigan fans turn out in these big occasions like they always do, whether it's a Good Friday game against St Helens or the World Club Challenge.

"This is the fruits of our labour from last year, when we put in the hard work to win the League Leaders' Shield and won the Grand Final."

When pressed on how good the Panthers are and if their period of dominance down under really does make them the finest the NRL has seen, Farrell added: "I can only go off their achievements.

"There are not many teams that have been able to win three on the bounce, which is unheard of.

"They're very successful. But they'll be up there in the conversations."

While Wigan Warriors have already got their season under way, Penrith Panthers have prepared for today's showdown by heading to Manchester City's training base.

The NRL champions were given access to the Premier League champions' facilities, and were even guests at a recent match.

Penrith were also given a workout by Super League side Warrington Wolves in an opposed training session.