Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Eden Park

Pretty sure I'm sitting behind all the England friends and family, many of whom are trying to wave to their player before the anthems as if it's a school nativity play.

Quite a small crowd at the moment but they'll be bringing the noise.

Image source, Getty Images

England are on a record run of 29 Tests in a row and beat Canada 51-12 in November 2021.

Formidable.

Here come the sides! Glorious sun at Eden Park to welcome the women onto the surface...

Image source, Getty Images

England are two-time winners of the women's World Cup, in 1994 and 2014, and have lost in five more finals.

Canada's best finish came in 2014, when they lost to England in the final.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Eden Park

Image source, BBC Sport

England head coach Simon Middleton set his side up as the villains of this tournament in his press conference this week, assuming that Eden Park would be firmly against them.

But there are a fair few England shirts around. This is Caroline and Stuart, who travelled all the way over here for the knockout stages.

Caroline took up rugby two years ago aged 57 (legend) and since then has been an avid Red Roses fan. They've got tickets to next weekend's final too so fingers crossed...

Image source, Getty Images

All set for another victorious night for England then? Or will the Maple Leafs start our sporting weekend with a massive upset?

Let us know - as well as where you are following from - #bbcrugby or text us on 81111 (UK Only)...

Kat Merchant
2014 England World Cup winner on BBC iPlayer

Canada are solid, they chip away at things. They don’t have the flair of France or New Zealand but they are fast, they’re fit, they’re strong. They are here and they are really up for it.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport in Auckland

Image source, Getty Images

England are such heavy favourites to win that it is hard not to let the mind wander to a possible final against New Zealand or France - but Canada captain Sophie de Goede sees things differently.

Her side are amateurs playing against a professional outfit. They have never beaten England at a World Cup.

"We all understand some of the hurdles that each of us has had to jump," she told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"For some of us, it's leaving family to go overseas to play rugby. For other people, it's staying at home working so they can have an income to afford to play rugby when we go on tours.

"We all believe in each other. England is a formidable team. The pressure is on them. We're probably the only people that truly believe we can pull off that upset."

Katy Daley-Mclean
England's 2014 World Cup-winning captain on BBC Radio 5 Live

It’s the business end. When you get to this point it’s knockout rugby. This could be a really good game from both sides, Canada will hope to spoil the party.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Eden Park

Eden Park is an iconic rugby venue - having hosted a men's World Cup final and Lions Tests.

That we're here for women's World Cup semi-finals feels like a huge step for the women's game. It's going to be a special day.

Around 24,000 tickets have been sold for today which is amazing but maybe slightly disappointing given a record attendance of 34,235 was set on the opening day.

It's a beautiful day in Auckland so hopefully a few more decide to come and enjoy some rugby in the sun.

Image source, BBC Sport

Canada: Alarie; Grant, Corrigan, Kaljuvee, Farries; Tessier, Pelletier; DeMerchant, Tuttosi, Menin, Holtkamp, Hunt, Forteza, Paquin, De Goede (capt).

Replacements: Boag, Kassil, Ellis, Fuamba, Beukeboom, Senft, Svoboda, Holly.

Image source, Getty Images

England: Rowland; Dow, Scarratt, Heard, MacDonald; Harrison, Infante; Cornborough, Cokayne, Bern, Aldcroft, Ward, Matthews, M Packer, Hunter (capt).

Replacements: Davies, Muir, Brown, Galligan, Cleall, L Packer, Aitchison, Kildunne.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Eden Park

Image source, Getty Images

It's all been the tiniest bit turbulent for England over the last couple of days.

First we heard on Thursday that replacement scrum-half Lucy Packer might have an ankle injury.

That set minds whirring given Claudia MacDonald - playing on the wing today - is Simon Middleton's only other cover for starting scrum-half Leanne Infante.

Packer has been pulled off the bench today and replaced with flanker Sadia Kabeya as Middleton doubles down on his forwards-heavy game plan and plays without a replacement nine.

Prop Hannah Botterman has a late injury too, meaning Vickii Cornborough starts, the multi-talented Maud Muir becomes the loose-head replacement and Shaunagh Brown offers tight-head cover on the bench.

Image source, Getty Images

What an arena!

Eden Park, Auckland, has more than 120 years of history coursing through it and has held two men's World Cup finals.

It's also where the opening game of next year's women's football World Cup will be held.

Good morning/good night to you all!

It's the witching hour, back home at least, for England's women as they look for a place in next Saturday's World Cup final.

Image source, Getty Images

The form books suggest this matchup against Canada should be a matter of course for Sarah Hunter and co.

The annals of sporting history suggest semi-finals are rarely routinely negotiated.

We shall know soon enough...