Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Brick Community Stadium, Wigan

Image source, Getty Images

Jarome Luai has formed one of rugby league's great halves pairings over the last few years at Penrith Panthers alongside Nathan Cleary in the NRL.

However, he is expected to take on more of a leadership role [if possible] as Wests Tigers star recruit for next term and by the sounds of it he is cut out for the role.

Luai is only one of four survivors from the Samoa squad who reached the last World Cup final at Old Trafford and one of his main tasks in this series will be to help the team gel quickly.

"It is a new-look side with a lot of young players and they are all excited to get this opportunity. I think we have 10 or 11 debutants which is pretty crazy to have," he told BBC Sport.

“It’s a strength of mine as a leader in a natural sense [to bring people together]. It is what I was able to do at Penrith be the guy to bring people together and have a good time but also pass along the group that when it is time to work we get the job done with 100% intensity but everyone has connected really well on and off the field really well."

Samoan head coach Ben Gardiner, speaking to BBC Two: "It's a really exciting young squad. We have a number of debutants, Deine Mariner on the wing is a brilliant talent. He's super fast and we expect big things from him.

"We have some experienced debutants from Shawn Blore Anae Ulisese and Jeremiah Nanai in the back row.

"The most electric debutant and the most senior play, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Although we have young guys, we have experienced guys on the bill as well."

"We are role modelling what needs to be role modelled for young Samoan boys and girls and their families.

"It is something we do with great pride and spirit."

On facing England: "We are expecting a strong side and not looking to the past. They have named a strong team and they have some good experienced guys.

"They're ready and we're ready as well."

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Brick Community Stadium, Wigan

Image source, Getty Images

The notion that this two-Test series provides England with the chance for redemption after the events of the World Cup semi-final two years ago has been dismissed by Samoa head coach Ben Gardiner.

However, recent history is pretty hard to ignore and both St Helens full-back Jack Welsby and Wigan half-back Harry Smith are keen to come out on top this time around.

Speaking at Tuesday's media day, Welsby said that there is "always going to be a little bit of needle" after what transpired at the Emirates Stadium, while Smith indicated that several of the squad, who played that day have spoken of the "heartache" they felt and the need to put things right.

It should all add to the spice of the occasion and what promises to the a fantastic test match between two of the leading nations in the world.

Jon Wilkin
Former England international on BBC Two

This is why there's a strong argument for Mikey Lewis.

If you want tries and an exciting player, pick Mikey Lewis.

If you want consistency then you pick Harry Smith.

Kevin Brown
Former England international on BBC Two

Harry Smith is important for the balance of the team.

He's happy in the role in making other players look good, but he can pick teams apart and he's a big game player.

Jamie Peacock
Former England captain on BBC Two

England were clunky and inconsistent [in the World Cup semi-final against Samoa].

They need to be the opposite of that today and it's an opportunity rather than revenge.

Kevin Brown
Former England international on BBC Two

I don't think we will ever recover [from the World Cup loss against Samoa].

I had hopes we could be world champions on home soil. There will be revenge, but you can never get those moments back.

I'm sure it still hurts for the players who are involved today.

Image source, Getty Images

Twelve months ago, England winger Dom Young should have been tormenting Tonga's defence. Instead, he lay in a hospital bed.

England's three-Test series with the Tongans was teed up to become the latest chapter in Young's remarkable rise, after he had starred in the World Cup the previous autumn.

Yet his campaign was over before it started - as a far greater challenge faced him.

"It was a sinus virus that spread," Young told BBC Sport. "I had an abscess that was pushing on the lining of my brain - it spread to my eye.

"I was in a bit of a mess, a bit of a state. I was in quite a lot of pain. I didn't feel myself at all. It was a pretty scary time and my family were worried.

"It definitely opened my eyes up to the bigger picture, made me realise how lucky I am to be in the position I am and how it could all have been taken away."

Young is one of five NRL players in the matchday squad for the first Test, and will make his first England appearance since the World Cup semi-final defeat by Samoa two years ago.

You can read Dom Young's full interview with BBC Sport's Matt Newsum here.

Samoa's squad is much changed from the one that beat England to reach the World Cup final two years ago.

Captain Jarome Luai is one of four survivors from that squad, which includes incoming Leeds Rhinos forward Keenan Palasia, plus Leigh pair John Asiata and Ricky Leutele.

Former New Zealand dual-code international Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will make his debut for Samoa, as will forward Jeremiah Nanai, who previously represented Australia.

Stephen Crichton, whose drop-goal condemned England to defeat in that semi-final at Emirates Stadium two years ago, is one of a number of Samoa players to miss the tour.

Uncapped England winger Liam Marshall is among those to miss out on a place in the 19-man matchday squad.

Marshall, 28, finished the domestic season as Super League's leading try-scorer - with 27 - and helped Wigan complete a quadruple.

But he is one of six players in head coach Shaun Wane's 24-man squad for the two-Test series who will not feature this weekend.

Warrington's Danny Walker, Huddersfield's Chris Hill and Canberra Raiders' Morgan Smithies sit out the match, as will Wigan's Luke Thompson, who is suspended.

Marshall's Wigan club-mate Junior Nsemba, the other uncapped player called up by Wane for the series, made the 19-man matchday squad.

But the 20-year-old, named Super League's Young Player of the Year earlier this month, is the unlucky one not to make the 18 for the game.

Image source, Getty Images

England head coach Shaun Wane, speaking to BBC Two: "Mikey [Lewis] is a fantastic player. Harry [Smith] has a good left footed boot and against Tonga last year Harry was great. He won us the series. Mikey's very versatile, so today he’s going to be in the bench. We’ve got firepower all over the park and I’m looking forward to the game. I'm absolutely sure my lads will give a good account of themselves.

On how much the World Cup semi-final defeat by Samoa still hurts: "Me personally, really badly. I will never get over that loss ever. The players have moved on; they’ve all got their Super League careers. At the back of their minds, the players who were in the squad that day will still be hurting but we're professional sportspeople and just want to win the game today and win next Saturday. We’ve not mentioned the semi-final. The lads have been great and they're ready to play today."

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Brick Community Stadium, Wigan

Earlier in the week organisers indicated that they had sold 12,000 tickets for this contest and were hopeful of attracting a crowd in excess of 15,000.

It will be interesting to see just where that figure ends up today given that attracting big attendances to international fixtures, particularly if Australia or New Zealand are not in town, has historically been a huge issue in the game.

BBC Two

As well as following my witterings on here, you can watch the game live on BBC Two. Either tune in on TV, via BBC iPlayer, or clicking the link at the top of the page.

As England and Samoa get their first Test underway in Wigan we want to hear from you!

If you're going to the game or watching from home Get Involved and let us know your thoughts as Shaun Wane’s side take on Samoa in their first ever Test series in England.

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Image source, Getty Images

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Brick Community Stadium, Wigan

Dom Young, Herbie Farnworth and Kai Pearce-Paul make their first England appearances since the World Cup semi-final defeat by Samoa two years ago.

Six of the team that started that day feature from the off although there is no place for Wigan youngster Junior Nsemba in the 17.

Head coach Shaun Wane, as expected, names Harry Smith alongside George Williams in the halves.

England: Welsby, Young, Newman, Farnworth, Ashton, Williams, Smith, Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Radley.

Interchanges: Lewis, Knowles, McMeeken, Burgess

Image source, BBC Sport

Samoa hand out eight debuts, with former New Zealand dual-code international Roger Tuivasa-Sheck arguably the most notable inclusion.

He is joined by Jeral Skelton, Junior Pauga, Deine Mariner, Shawn Blore Anae Ulsese, Jeremiah Nanai, Blaize Seuala-Talagi, and Lazarus Vaalepu. Jarome Luai captains the side.

Samoa: Tuivasa-Sheck, Skelton, Tago, Pauga, Mariner, Milford, Luai, Molo, Tevaga, May, Blore Anae Ulisese, Nanai, Asiata.

Interchanges: Seuala-Talagi, Leilua, Vaalepu, Chan Kum Tong.

After some to-ing, fro-ing and uncertainty, we are delighted to bring you some rugby league autumn international action to you on this fine October afternoon.

It's England versus Samoa, the first of two clashes between Shaun Wane's side and the Pacific islanders - they meet again in Leeds next Saturday.

Can England exorcise some demons from THAT World Cup semi-final defeat in 2022? Or will the Samoans claim another mighty scalp?

Let's find out...