The waiting is almost over. Following a glittering opening ceremony in front of 83,500 people at Telstra Stadium, Sydney, hosts Australia and Argentina will take to the field in the opening match of Rugby World Cup 2003.
For Al Baxter, it will be the biggest game of his life. The tighthead prop faces the brunt of a fearsome Argentina scrum in his first start for his country - a true baptism of fire. The battle of the front rows could be a key factor in the destination of the first game in Pool A.
Australia and Argentina have played 16 times with 11 wins to Australia and four to the Pumas, with one draw. Australia have not lost to the Pumas since an 18-16 loss in Buenos Aires in 1997.
Team news
Injury removed number 8 Toutai Kefu from the Australian squad prior to RWC and illness has robbed the team of Stirling Mortlock ahead of this first game. Matt Burke takes the outside centre spot.
Baxter will make his run on Test debut while rugby league convert Mat Rogers is at full back.
Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda has selected his team with an attacking look, with Felipe Contepomi lining up at fly half in place of RWC 1999 leading point scorer Gonzalo Quesada.
"Felipe is better suited at fly half for this game," said Loffreda. "We need an aggressive player in that position and while Quesada's goalkicking is exceptional, we also have plenty of confidence in Felipe."
Everyone is watching
Argentine captain Agustin Pichot says the Pumas have selected a starting line-up designed to take the battle to the Wallabies in all phases.
"We must prove our worth to the world," he said. "The opening matches are very important, you live it and get more emotional.
"We are playing Australia and they are at home and we are playing their best team. So it will very exciting and very special."
Dual concerns
Australia will have to withstand tremendous pressures going into this fifth RWC. Defending the Webb Ellis Cup is an added challenge for a team that followed an historic first home defeat to England in June with losses in the Tri-Nations to South Africa, 26-22, in Cape Town and New Zealand, 50-21, in Sydney.
On the field, Argentina are expected to see Baxter as a potential target from which they can gain the ascendancy in the scrum.
Reports indicate that the Wallabies have done everything humanly possible to be in prime shape for the Rugby World Cup. This and the support of the home crowds can only help them in their ultimate aim of retaining the Webb Ellis Cup.
World rankings
If Australia win the game they will go above Ireland into third position in the Official IRB World Rankings.
A win to Argentina would reverse the Official IRB World Rankings, with the Pumas taking over fourth and the Wallabies slipping to seventh. Ireland, the other contender in Pool A, are currently ranked third in the world.
The teams:
The Australian team: 15 Mat Rogers, 14 Wendell Sailor, 13 Matthew Burke, 12 Elton Flatley, 11 Joe Roff, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan (captain), 8 David Lyons, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 George Smith, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 David Giffin, 3 Alastair Baxter, 2 Brendan Cannon, 1 Bill Young.
Replacements: 16 Jeremy Paul, 17 Ben Darwin, 18 Daniel Vickerman, 19 Matt Cockbain, 20 Chris Whitaker, 21 Matt Giteau, 22 Lote Tuqiri.
The Argentina team: 15 Ignacio Corleto, 14 José María Nuñez Piossek, 13 Manuel Contepomi, 12 José Orengo, 11 Diego Albanese, 10 Felipe Contepomi, 9 Agustín Pichot (captain), 8 Gonzalo Longo, 7 Rolando Martin, 6 Santiago Phelan, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Ignacio Fernández Lobbe, 3 Roberto Grau, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Omar Hasan.
Replacements: 16 Federico Méndez, 17 Mauricio Reggiardo, 18 Rimas Alvarez, 19 Martín Durand, 20 Nicolás Fernández Miranda, 21 Gonzalo Quesada, 22 Juan Martín Hernández.
Kick-off: Friday, October 11, 20.30 local (10.30 GMT, 11.30 BST)
Referee: Paul Honiss
Touch judges: Tony Spreadbury, Brett Bowden
TMO: Mark Lawrence
Stay tuned to rugbyworldcup.com for up to the minute match coverage as well as live audio and video highlights of the game.