The players are out on the pitch and the formalities are underway.

Irish president Michael D Higgins is currently being introduced to both sets of players.

Then we'll have the anthems, and of course the iconic Haka.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

This lightshow is pretty cool, even if loads of people are clearly still getting the pints in.

HERE. WE. GO.

Scott Barrett and Caelan Doris lead the teams out in Dublin.

Image source, Getty Images

It's all smiles between the two head coaches ahead of kick-off.

Image source, Inpho

Lock Joe McCarthy says Ireland will not be making "any excuses" for rustiness against the All Blacks on Friday night.

Andy Farrell's side have not taken the field since their drawn series with South Africa in July.

Their opponents this weekend, however, have played nine Tests in that time, most recently a dramatic win over England on Saturday.

"It's an interesting one whether it's better to be battle-hardened going into a game or be fresh," said Leinster second-row McCarthy.

"A lot of our guys have played a lot of games in the URC [United Rugby Championship], which is quite competitive.

"We pride ourselves as a group on being able to come together as fast as possible.

"Even if it's the first game up, we don't ease ourselves into it. We expect to hit the ground running. We don't have any excuse for not being cohesive because it's our first game."

Image source, Inpho

Ireland haven't played since the summer, when they drew with South Africa in a two-match series.

It was a thrilling series, with the Springboks running out 27-20 winners before Ciaran Frawley's last-gasp drop goal handed Ireland a famous win in the second match.

Since that game, New Zealand have played eight matches.

Just like a good steak, Ireland will be hoping they aren't undercooked, while New Zealand will be aiming not to be overcooked. Both teams want it just right.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

Image source, Inpho

The message has been clear from Ireland all week: when they face New Zealand on Friday, revenge will not be on the menu.

Hugo Keenan said it last week from the pleasant climes of the Algarve, Ireland's second home, and Andy Farrell repeated it when he spoke to reporters in Dublin on Wednesday.

And while most of the Ireland camp would insist they have moved on from last year's agonising World Cup quarter-final loss in Paris, Tadhg Beirne felt moved to admit that his dreams are still haunted by the experience. Proof, as if it were needed, that the pain remains.

For Ireland, Friday's match - regardless of the result - cannot banish the hurt that hit them like a hammer when, after 37 increasingly desperate phases, their World Cup was ended when Sam Whitelock won a penalty for the All Blacks.

To exorcise the ghosts of Paris, they must wait until 2027.

BBC Sounds

You've a choice of listening for tonight's game.

On Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds, Jim Neilly is joined on commentary in Dublin by former Ireland back row Chris Henry from 20:00 GMT.

Former Ireland wing Tommy Bowe and Chris Jones are on commentary on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5Live.

You can also follow live updates here, and we'll have reaction after the match on the BBC Sport website.

You won't miss a thing.

Image source, Getty Images

George Ford sent a last-play drop goal narrowly wide as New Zealand edged past England 24-22 at Twickenham on Saturday.

Mark Tele'a came off the bench to score a decisive 76th-minute try and continue the All Blacks' run of superiority over England.

England lost narrowly in two Tests against the All Blacks in July and Ford's last-play drop-goal drifted agonisingly wide after he had hit the post with a potential match-winning penalty.

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI

Just as he did against England six days ago, Scott Robertson has spent a spell of the warm-up stood on halfway watching the opposition going through their preparations.

Ireland will be keeping those strike plays under wraps!

Atmosphere is building in Dublin.

We're edging closer to kick-off. How are your nerves?

Under the Friday night lights, this could be pretty special.

Image source, INpho

Image source, Inpho

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI at the Aviva Stadium

Image source, Inpho

Robertson said his time in Northern Ireland "helped shape" him as a person.

Robertson, who will lead the All Blacks against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night, spent one season playing for Ards RFC in county Down as a teenager in 1993-94.

The 50-year-old, who did win one of his 23 Test caps in Dublin, will be coaching against Ireland for the first time since taking over the All Blacks job from Ian Foster after the 2023 World Cup.

"A bit emotional, actually," he said of coming back as head coach of his native country.

"There's a family, the Herons, that I lived with when I was a young fella and came over here and played a bit of footy.

"It was a great moment for me growing up and now [to have] the chance to publicly thank them for what they did.

"They helped shape me, it was a great time in my life. It'll be great to see them."

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI at the Aviva Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Before he became one of the most recognised coaches in world rugby and prior to the famous breakdancing celebrations, the All Blacks caps or the 'Razor' moniker, Scott Robertson was just a teenager in his native New Zealand longing to see more of the world.

It was that desire that 31 years ago brought him to the unlikely surroundings of Ards RFC's Hamilton Park in Northern Ireland.

A little more than 100 miles from where he will sit on Friday night to watch his All Blacks side against Ireland in the Aviva Stadium, Robertson remains a "favourite topic of conversation" for the Greyabbey family that put him up for his nine-month stay in Ireland.

"We were on holiday in New Zealand and stayed with a guy who'd come over on a teacher exchange to Bangor Grammar," explains David Heron, who was then president at Ards RFC and remains a member.

"He said to us that there was a lad at the school that he was working in who'd love to come and play rugby in Ireland. We went to meet his parents and found he was dead keen, so we made arrangements for him to stay with us."

Austin Healey
Former England scrum-half on TNT Sports

It's a wet night and both teams have been practicing their high kicks in the warm-ups. It will be so crucial for both teams that they are solid on both sides of the ball.

Ireland captain Caelan Doris says he is relishing another battle with the "world class" All Blacks in tonight's Test in Dublin.

Brian O'Driscoll
Former Lions captain on TNT Sports

Caolan Doris is not only the leader but arguably the best player in this side. It makes sense to have him as captain.

Image source, Inpho

Caelan Doris' ascension to Ireland captain follows a similar change at his club with Leinster boss Leo Cullen promoting him in September after James Ryan and Garry Ringrose shared leadership duties during the 2023-24 season.

Naturally, the 26-year-old is being talked about as a candidate for the British and Irish Lions captaincy under Farrell, who will lead the side's tour to Australia next summer.

When asked about what leadership qualities he sees in Doris, Farrell said: "He's popular among the group because there's no ego.

"He's unbelievably diligent in getting his own stuff right. He's professional and come on leaps and bounds over the past four years. He's comfortable in his own skin."

Farrell added: "He's like a sponge, learning from the leaders he's had the pleasure to sit alongside in his international career.

"He's taken it all in. He's calm, he's not panicking, he's taking it all in his stride. That puts everyone else at ease. He's very comfortable at allowing others to lead at the same time.

"On top of that, he's not in bad form, is he?"

Image source, Getty Images

Peter O'Mahony has responded to Caelan Doris' promotion to captain "in the right manner", says Ireland head coach Andy Farrell.

Munster flanker O'Mahony helped Ireland retain their Six Nations title earlier this year after being named captain following Johnny Sexton's retirement.

O'Mahony was also skipper for the two-Test series in South Africa in the summer, but after he dropped to the bench for the second game, Doris led Ireland out and has been retained in the role for the upcoming November internationals.

Farrell said O'Mahony has approached the change "exactly how Peter always does, in a professional way, in the sense of that's what leaders should do".

He added: "I've used him many times as examples in the past of how to handle yourself when things are not quite as how you would like them.

"[There are] obviously different permutations with injuries and all sorts of stuff but Peter would be the first one to go up to Caelan and not just congratulate him but help him out as well."

Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out of tonight's game with a "slight hamstring strain".

He has been replaced in the Irish front row by Connacht's Finlay Bealham, with Ulster's Tom O'Toole promoted to the bench.

While Furlong is out, Ronan Kelleher has won his fitness race to deputise for the injured Dan Sheehan at hooker.

Ireland will be led by Caelan Doris, who was named captain for the autumn series. Peter O'Mahony, who captained Ireland to the Six Nations title earlier this year following Johnny Sexton's retirement, is on the bench.

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley, Jamie Osborne.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

New Zealand wing Caleb Clarke says he is excited to face Ireland for the first time as he revealed his family roots in Northern Ireland before tonight's Test match in Dublin.

Speaking after New Zealand's training session in Dublin on Monday, Clarke said his father, ex-All Blacks wing Eroni Clarke, and grandfather mentioned his Irish roots before he left for the team's northern tour.

"That’s where the Clarkes came from before coming to Samoa," said Clarke, 25, who scored six tries in the Rugby Championship.

"They came in the early '20s or '40s to Samoa and started potato farming and from there the Clarkes sort of grew."

Asked to expand, he added: "Northern Ireland, up north, before they came to Samoa as potato farmers, that's what I heard.

"It's probably why I like Guinness. I'm not a drinker but when I tried it I was like 'wow, that is so nice!'".