It's straight out from the kick off and Canada win their first lineout.

Referee Sara Cox blows her whistle and Wales kick off. We're underway in Wellington.

Special moment for everyone involved, gets the hairs on the back of the neck going

Canada won the coin toss and have chosen to receive.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales captain Hannah Jones is delighted become her country's latest half-centurion.

"It's an honourable moment, but really it's a thank you to my family and friends that have supported me on the journey and the coaches," she said.

Jones first arrived on the international scene as a fresh-faced 15-year-old and made her full Test debut aged just 16 in the 39-3 win against Scotland in 2015.

Her current team-mates Carys Phillips, Sioned Harries, Robyn Wilkins and Keira Bevan were also in the squad that day.

Inspirational words from former Wales fly-half Elinor Snowsill to the squad who retired at the end of the summer.

Snowsill, or 'Snowy' to her teammates also backs Wales to reach the semi-finals of the 2025 World Cup in England.

Ceri Coleman-Phillips
BBC Sport Wales at Sky Stadium, Wellington

Conditions are favourable here at the Sky Stadium, it's overcast and the famous Wellington wind has died down a bit.

Around 5,300 tickets had been sold earlier this week, and with it being a bank holiday weekend and a double header involving the Black Ferns, organisers are hoping there will be plenty of walk-ups.

We're not expecting a massive red wall as only a few family members have made the 12,000 mile trip, but Wellington's famous Welsh Dragon Bar has put out a call to arms for any Welsh locals to come out and show their support.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Captain Hannah Jones knows Wales face a physical battle against Canada but says her team aim to show "some exciting attack" in today's game.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales lock Georgia Evans says her side deserve their place in the top tier of the new WXV competition.

Wales are among the world's top six teams who will go head to head in Wellington from this weekend.

They qualified with England, New Zealand, France, Canada and Australia after finishing third in this year's Six Nations.

"It's our time to show we're not here just to turn up, we're here to put a performance out there," Evans said.

"We got here through merit, it's been hard work and a long process, but we deserve to be here.

"We've got the belief, we've got the physicality and everything that we need to go head to head with these girls, we're really excited."

Wales flanker Alex Callender says her late mother will "always be in her heart".

Callender's mother, Donna, died earlier this year after a long battle with cancer.

The 23-year-old has been named in Wales’ starting team to face Canada.

Image source, Getty Images

Canada head coach Kevin Rouet said: "A lot of hard work has gone into preparing for WXV and all of us, players and staff, are looking forward to getting the tournament started with a good game against Wales.

"Having competed in England just over two weeks ago, we have been able to have good continuity and momentum, and have continued working on refining our offence and defence.

"This roster is eager to get back on the pitch this week and implement the elements we've continued to work on as a group since arriving in Wellington."

Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham said: "It's definitely a big challenge for us, we have done a lot of work looking at Canada.

"We know their strengths from their power game, [they've got] some great athletes, they play at an intensity which the top three have been playing over the last three years.

"We are confident in the work that we have done, our development over the last 12 months and we are really excited by the challenge and to see where we are at.

"It is going to be a great occasion, it's a great stadium and what a place to go out and express ourselves."

For those of you who love stats:

First meeting: 1991 Rugby World Cup: Wales 9-9 Canada

Played: 13

Canada won: 9

Wales won: 2

Drawn: 2

Points: Canada 276-109 Wales 109

Highest score: Canada 52 (52-0 on 22 August, 2017)

Wales 21 (21-38 on 24 November, 2018)

Biggest winning margin: Canada 52 (52-0 on 22 August, 2017)

Wales 5 (16-11 on 6 May, 2006)

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image source, Getty Images

There's likely to be a 50th cap on the Canada team as well today with prop DaLeaka Menin set to reach the milestone cap from the bench.

She'll be a familiar face to plenty of the Wales players given Menin plies her trade with Exeter Chiefs.

Canada suffered back-to-back defeats to England during their warm up to this tournament and - in contrast to Wales - have made changes across the board.

However the formidable back row of Gabrielle Senft, Sara Svoboda and Sophie de Goede remains.

They have been forced into a late change with lock Laetitia Royer ruled out with injury so Courtney Holtkamp takes her place in the pack and Sara Cline is called up to the bench.

Replacement Dino Ashlynn Smith is in line to make her senior international debut.

Canada: Madison Grant; Florence Symonds, Shoshanah Seumanutafa, Alexandra Tessier, Sarah-Maude Lachance; Claire Gallagher, Olivia Apps; McKinley Hunt, Emily Tuttosi, Alexandria Ellis, Tyson Beukeboom, Courtney Holtkamp, Gabrielle Senft, Sara Svoboda, Sophie de Goede.

Replacements: Gillian Boag, Brittany Kassil, DaLeaka Menin, Ashlynn Smith, Sara Cline, Justine Pelletier, Julia Schell, Krissy Scurfield.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales have developed a largely settled side since finishing third in this year's Women's Six Nations with three wins.

The same XV which beat USA for the first time in Colwyn Bay last month are entrusted to clinch a little bit of history against Canada.

It means captain Hannah Jones leads Wales on her 50th cap, while Carys Cox is given the nod on the wing after impressing on her debut.

Robyn Wilkins (pictured) is preferred at 10 to Lleucu George and scrum-half Keira Bevan, whose boot propelled Wales into the World Cup quarter-finals last year, is expected to continue with kicking duties.

Double Olympian Jasmine Joyce starts at full-back and vice-captain Bethan Lewis starts at number eight, with Sioned Harries ready to make an impact from the bench.

Carys Williams-Morris takes the place of another recent debutant Nel Metcalfe on the bench.

Wales: Jasmine Joyce; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (Capt), Kerin Lake, Carys Cox; Robyn Wilkins, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Abbie Fleming, Georgia Evans, Alisha Butchers, Alex Callender, Bethan Lewis.

Replacements: Kelsey Jones, Abbey Constable, Donna Rose, Kate Williams, Sioned Harries, Meg Davies, Lleucu George, Carys Williams-Morris.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Good morning (if you're in Wales), good afternoon (for those in New Zealand) and good evening (for those in Canada)!

Welcome to the opening match of WXV1 for both Wales and Canada.

It's the start of an exciting new chapter in women's rugby with the best six teams in the world going head to head.

Wales qualified by finishing third in the Six Nations earlier this year with wins over Ireland, Scotland and Italy.

Canada booked their place by finishing second in the Pacific Four series, beating Australia and USA.

On the back of a first win over USA, Wales will be looking for a first win over the Canucks Maple Leafs in 17 years.

Canada are one of the big hitters in women's rugby and were semi-finalists in last year's Rugby World Cup.

It was all the way back in 2006 when Wales last beat them, in the slightly less glamorous surroundings of Ely Memorial Park in Cardiff - home to Glamorgan Wanderers.

This time we're at the home of the Hurricanes and a venue that has hosted World Cup football, rugby, cricket - as well as Guns n' Roses!

So will it prove Paradise City for Wales or will they need a little more Patience to end that wait!

Sorry, too early for all that?

So let's have a look at the teams.