James Slipper has been pinged for a no-arms tackle on Dewi Lake in that opening exchange and Ben Thomas steps up for a crack at goal.

Dafydd Jenkins wins the game's opening lineout with ease and Wainwright gets an early run on his 50th cap.

Ben Thomas gets us under way...

Gareth Griffiths
BBC Sport Wales in Sydney

A rousing rendition of the Welsh national anthem here in Sydney and one that left new cap Josh Hathaway very emotional.

As you can tell, Australia seem to have a very relaxed approach to kick-off times.

It was originally 10:45, then became 10:55 and now...

First up, Mae hen wlad fy nhadau...

Fair play, there must be a few Welsh ex-pats in the crowd because that was a decent rendition.

Now, Advance Australia Fair.

James Hook
Former Wales fly-half on BBC Radio Wales

Both teams are desperate for a win for different reasons.

Wales have lost seven out of seven, Australia have got the Lions tour next year, they've got the World Cup in 2027, so it's important that they start building momentum.

I'm not quite sure what sort of result we are going to see.

Image source, Getty Images

Nice touch here by Australia as a modern-day legend carries out the match ball.

Michael Hooper announced this week his retirement from the game after missing out on selection for the Olympics with Australia Sevens.

The 32-year-old, who captained the Wallabies a record 69 times in his 125-Test career, switched from 15-man rugby to sevens after the 2023 World Cup.

He became Australia's youngest ever captain in 2014, aged 23, and helped guide the Wallabies to the Rugby Championship a year later and the 2015 World Cup.

Image source, Getty Images

Oh that wonderful night in Lyon.

The last time Wales and Australia met saw Warren Gatland's side become the first team to reach the 2023 World Cup quarter-finals thanks to a record win over the Wallabies.

Gareth Anscombe kicked 23 points, captain Jac Morgan was outstanding and number eight Taulupe Faletau and scrum-half Gareth Davies showed their class.

How Wales must wish they had any of those players available today.

The display ranks among Wales' finest performances under Warren Gatland, but they have managed just one win in the eight games since.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wing Rio Dyer says Wales are striving to make the jersey "what it used to be" by gaining an elusive win in this series against Australia.

Warren Gatland's side have lost their last seven internationals, a run that includes a clean sweep of Six Nations defeats, where Wales finished bottom for the first time since 2003.

Now they have the first of two matches against the Wallabies to end that miserable sequence.

"We are a young tight-knit squad fighting for that same goal, to get those wins and make that Welsh jersey what it used to be," said Dyer.

"The results have not gone our way but the main thing we can take from them is how tight we are as a group.

"We are passionate and want to get those wins, hopefully we will get the rewards."

Read more: 'We want to make Wales jersey what is used to be'

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Familiar faces are battling it out again as New Zealanders Warren Gatland and Joe Schmidt come face to face in Sydney.

It's a rivalry that dates back decades.

"We actually played in the New Zealand teachers' school team together," said former hooker Gatland.

"He was a scrawny winger who played for Manawatu, although he actually had a little bit of pace."

The duo have coached against each other since, with Schmidt leading Ireland against Gatland's Wales.

After returning to New Zealand, he eventually became part of the All Blacks coaching staff, helping the side to the 2023 World Cup final where they were beaten by South Africa.

Then Australia came calling.

"I thought Joe had retired. He's had about three of them (retirements), but seems to come out of it every couple of years," said Gatland.

"He went back to New Zealand to retire, then came back with the Blues and then the All Blacks and now Australia. Hopefully they're paying him lots of money!"

Read more: Familiar faces Gatland and Schmidt reunited

Image source, Getty Images

What a warrior this guy has been for Australia over the last 11 years.

James Slipper is the Wallabies' most-capped player and makes his 135th international appearance today.

He's one of only three survivors in the Australia team from the 40-6 hammering at the hands of Wales in last year's World Cup, alongside number eight Rob Valetini and wing Andrew Kellaway.

The 35-year-old is quite an opponent for Wales' Archie Griffin to pack down again on his first Test start.

"It's a hard one but that's how you learn your trade," said Warren Gatland.

"I don't expect any front-rows or tight forwards to be any good until they're 27, 28 or 29. I know James Slipper is a little older than that and his record speaks for itself.

"With [Taniela] Tupou on the tighthead, they've probably thought that's one area they can get an advantage and dominate.

"It's definitely been a focus in terms of tightening it up this week."

James Hook
Former Wales fly-half on BBC Radio Wales

Warren Gatland doesn't know his best starting 15 at the moment he is experimenting.

You can see why he has chosen Mason Grady at 12, I prefer him in the wider channels or even the wing where he's got more space to work.

We thought Ben Thomas would be better suited to 12, that second playmaker to attack those wider channels.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales are hoping their Cardiff midfield axis can fire some shots at the Wallabies today.

Half-backs Ellis Bevan and Ben Thomas have the imposing figure of Mason Grady outside them at inside centre.

Like Thomas, Grady is being asked to play out of position, as he fills the number 12 jersey for only the second time in his professional career, having started there against South Africa last month.

"With the nine, 10 and 12 coming from Cardiff, hopefully those combinations will make a difference," said Wales coach Warren Gatland.

"We know Mason had a lot of his game-time on the wing at the start of the season and Cardiff moved him into the centre later on.

"We're looking at him as potentially a 12 option, particularly to get some gainline stuff against defences that come a lot harder and faster than at club level.

"If you watch the game last week, we did move Mason around a little bit. Sometimes it was at inside centre, sometimes at outside centre.

"He's been good. We've seen a maturity in him in terms of scanning, taking on more responsibility and talking. That comes with experience."

Wales captain Dewi Lake says the 55-year wait for victory against Australia down under will be an extra motivation for his side.

As we have mentioned, Wales have not beaten the Wallabies on their own turf since a 19-16 victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1969.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Did we mention that it's 55 years since Wales beat the Wallabies in Australia?

Oh yes, I think we did.

To put it into perspective, Wales' last - and only - win against Australia on these shores came a month before Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. Yes, really!

So here's Wales' record since that 16-13 triumph back in 1969... It doesn't make happy reading.

• 1978 - Australia 18-8 Wales (Brisbane)
• 1978 - Australia 19-17 Wales (Sydney)
• 1991 - Australia 63-6 Wales (Brisbane)
• 1996 - Australia 56-25 Wales (Brisbane)
• 1996 - Australia 42-3 Wales (Sydney)
• 2003 - Australia 30-10 Wales (Sydney)
• 2007 - Australia 29-23 Wales (Sydney)
• 2007 - Australia 31-0 Wales (Brisbane)
• 2012 - Australia 27-19 Wales (Brisbane)
• 2012 - Australia 25-23 Wales (Melbourne)
• 2012 - Australia 20-19 Wales (Sydney)

Read more on Welsh calamity both on and off the field in Australia.

As mentioned, today is a big day for Aaron Wainwright as he wins his 50th cap for Wales.

The Dragons back-row has been almost ever present since his debut against Argentina in 2018 and among Wales' most consistent performers.

He has even managed to do what seemed like the impossible by filling the gap left by persistent injuries to long-time number eight Taulupe Faletau.

And I bet they love that 'tash of his in Australia!

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales are struggling to fill the tight-head prop role left by Tomas Francis.

He has been missing since the 2023 World Cup following his move to French club Provence.

Gatland insists Francis has not retired from international rugby but the Wales coach is looking for a long-term successor.

Henry Thomas, Leon Brown and Keiron Assiratti were ruled out of the summer trip through injury, while Dillon Lewis is not fit for the first Test.

That paves the way for Bath prop Griffin, who was born in Sydney but qualifies for Wales through his parents, to make his first Test start in his second international

"It's one position we're probably the most exposed at," said Gatland.

"We just haven't had a consistent tighthead who is playing week-in, week-out. The last one was probably Tomas Francis, but we need to get someone on the field and develop some experience.

"Archie is explosive and technically excellent. Unfortunately in the Six Nations he picked up an injury right at the start. It's good to see him back and we would just like to see him play some more rugby."

So Wales fans, I won't ask if you're confident this morning, but how about hopeful?

Thumbs up or down.

Defence coach Mike Forshaw described it as an "extraordinary" moment Wales' young players will never forget.

On arrival in Australia for their two-Test summer series, the Welsh squad were presented with traditional Aboriginal didgeridoo instruments by Dean Duncan of the Kamilaroi nation of north west New South Wales.

In response the Wales squad sang Calon Lan.