Away we go.

Surely England will be better?

The eagle-eyed of you might have spotted an unwelcome figure alongside the Australian players during the anthems.

The prankster known as Jarvo, with number 69 on his back, joined the line and was captured by the BBC TV cameras.

Jarvo has previously invaded the pitch at football and cricket matches, and now adds rugby league to his victims.

Mike Whalley
BBC Sport rugby league reporter

A magnificent view from up in the Gods. If the fans are as loud as the public address system is at Hill Dickinson Stadium, then it's going to be quite the atmosphere. Chappers and the BBC team are down there somewhere. I waved. They didn't wave back.

The players are out on the field in Liverpool. Unlike at Wembley, they emerge side by side to a roar from the crowd and flying fireworks.

Kick off is minutes away.

England

England head coach Shaun Wane, speaking to BBC One: "We have trained really well and time will tell. Australia are a champion team. We need to be a lot better. The signs I have seen from the players - they are ready."

On AJ Brimson: "AJ has impressed me so much - I have been so impressed, and I think we will see the best of him today."

On Harry Smith: "He is a natural seven and he is an organiser. He just gives a real steadiness. Which we didn't have last week."

On the stadium: "Unbelievable stadium - lots of England fans will be behind us. We will get what we deserve at the end of it."

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Super League referee Liam Moore took charge at Wembley but Grant Atkins from the NRL’s match officials panel Iis the man in the middle this afternoon.

Why does that matter hugely? Well when journalists spoke to Shaun Wane earlier this week it was obvious the England coach was concerned that he may not get chance to speak to the official and hot topic of conversation will be the interpretation of what goes on at the ruck.

There have been plenty of voices in the Australian media who were not happy that Harry Grant’s speed and creativity out of dummy half was partly nullified by slower ball last week.

And you would think a fast ruck would largely favour the visitors, with England missing 43 tackles and conceding nine linebreaks at Wembley.

Image source, SWPix

Some good news for English rugby league this week.

Rob Hawkins scored a hat-trick as England fought back with five unanswered tries in the final 23 minutes to beat Australia in the first Wheelchair Rugby League Ashes Test.

The world champions trailed 28-26 on Queensland's Gold Coast before their late rally - with Halifax Panthers' Hawkins scoring twice in the final three minutes.

Hawkins, the reigning international wheelchair player of the year, finished with a tally of 20 points, landing four conversions to add to his tries.

A good omen for today?

Australia

Australia head coach Kevin Walters, speaking to BBC One about the first Test: "First of all, I wouldn't say it was comfortable. Our boys thought it was a tough game. Both teams have improvements, but again, this is a new match so we have to start again."

On today's team: "We have got some really good 13s in our squad and Pat Carrigan will play that role today. "We are fortunate to have Harry Grant. He is really enjoying his role as captain."

On Hill Dickinson Stadium: "It has the feeling of a great stadium, a wonderful atmosphere for the players to play in. It is about getting our game on early."

Mike Whalley
BBC Sport rugby league reporter

Former England international Gareth Widdop has been interviewed at pitchside, and was asked for his prediction by a public address announcer who seemed very keen for him to forecast an England win.

Widdop responded. "I think it'll be close, but hopefully the boys will get a 14-10 victory."

Sam Burgess
Former England captain on BBC One

Image source, SWPix

We are seeing a young man enjoy playing rugby league.

The only fear Reece Walsh has is not competing. Quite often he makes great decisions.

If England want to have a chance today they must control him.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport

It was supposed to be the beginning of a grand three-part showdown between England and Australia, a Wembley showcase of international rugby league. It turned into the Reece Walsh show.

The Kangaroos full-back was the outstanding player in the tourists' 26-6 victory - a 13th straight win over British opposition and putting them on track to maintain their Ashes dominance.

The 23-year-old is a celebrity already in Australia, a National Rugby League Grand Final winner with Brisbane Broncos and a social media star with 640,000 Instagram followers.

But having already put an indelible mark on this series and with the World Cup in Australia coming next year, Walsh may be on the verge of being a global superstar.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

No surprises about the Australian face on the cover of today's match programme. Reece Walsh is the man the whole of rugby league has been talking about over the past month or so, and he lived up to his billing with two tries at Wembley last Saturday.

Will Dom Young, the England face on the front cover, have a starring role today?

Kevin Brown
Former England international on BBC One

At this level, if you're a little bit off, you're miles off. If England focus on themselves they can upset the Australians.

Jodie Cunningham
England women's captain on BBC One

We didn't see the best of England, but the worrying sign is we didn't see the best of Australia either.

Sam Burgess
Former England captain on BBC One

The first day would have been difficult for England after the defeat. A day of mourning. The quicker they can back on the horse and back in a positive mindset the better.

England have a new starting nine, a new full-back, and a new half-back. The combinations have to be simple, keep the skills basic, and get to the end of our sets.

Mike Whalley
BBC Sport rugby league reporter at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Today's match is the first non-football event at Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium, which opened earlier this year. The stadium is right on the waterfront at Liverpool's Bramley-Moore Dock, and the media seats are on the side closest to the water.

Which means, as you ascend towards the top of the stand, you get some great views of the Mersey.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at Hill Dickinson Stadium

While England coach Shaun Wane talked up the atmosphere at Wembley last weekend there were times when it felt a little flat.

But when you've got 60,000 in a 90,000 stadium that is understandable to a certain degree.

Today, we are back in the rugby league heartlands, so to speak, and while the capacity at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium is a touch under 53,000, there should not be an empty seat in the house.