Australian eyes will be on the highly-favoured Kangaroos on home turf but it's the form of the other teams that will determine the success of the rugby league World Cup.
The credibility of not only the World Cup but international rugby league as a whole will be put to the test in the next month in a tournament where Australia is expected to win a seventh straight title.
While there seems little doubt the Kangaroos will be in the mix when the tournament reaches its climax at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on November 22, the tournament is likely to be judged on how much competition they get that night and in their preceding four matches.
So the onus is well and truly on fellow heavyweights New Zealand and England to put up a mighty battle, while the other seven nations will need to produce some decent games of football to ensure the event does not become a laughing stock.
The World Cup kicks off tonight night when England meets Papua New Guinea in Townsville but the first real pointer to the success of the series comes Sunday in the heavweight clash between the Kangaroos and the Kiwis at the Sydney Football Stadium.
If the Kangaroos romp in the critics will come from everywhere claiming the tournament is little more than a parade of the home side's strength.
A New Zealand win, and it's game on.
But relying on the Kiwis to bring the goods must make the organsiers distinctly nervous, given the last two meetings between the two sides have been over by halftime and the Australians have run away with both contests.
Despite the recent run of outs, the Kiwis are confident and believe they have the discipline lack at times in the past to harness their talent.
"Every tournament you go to, like any game, you want to win," New Zealand fullback Lance Hohaia said.
"In that respect yeah, you want to win (the final) but we've got a game this weekend against the world champions and we've got to worry about that first.
"I guess it's nice being the underdogs, we just want to go about our business as best we can and try and improve throughout the tournament." World Cup organisers have done all they can to maximise the potential for competitive games, with the most complex of draws pitting similar strength teams against each other in the preliminary rounds.
While it has the potential to create even contests, the draw could also throw up several matches without much meaning. In the heavweight pool one there is the possibility of several dead rubbers given three of the four sides - Australia, New Zealand, England and PNG - advance to the semi-finals.
Organisers need the battle between the minnow nations for that fourth semi spot to remain competitive throughout.
It would have been music to their ears then to hear of the mood within the Ireland camp.
The Irish, along with Scotland, havwe been tipped by many experts as likely to finish bottom of their respective pools.
"Obviously we've got a couple of pretty tough games coming up but if we manage to get through this group I don't see why we can't make the semis," Ireland captain Scott Grix said.
"If you come out and say we're going to make the final, you're over exaggerating, if you come out and say 'oh, we just want to play as best we can', well that's no good -- you've got to have a realistic goal." Whoever does emerge to take the last of the semi-final spots will in all probability set up a meeting with Australia.
Even without a host of injured stars, the Kangaroos look to have too much class for the other nine nations right across the paddock.
"The bookies aren't very often wrong are they," England captain Jamie Peacock said of Australia's favouritism.
"They've got some fantastic players in their squad and they've probably dominated world rugby league for the last 30 years.
"I know there's been the occasional upset result and the Kiwis won the Tri-Nations in 2005, but they're deserving to go in as favourites, we're happy with the underdog tag.
"Australia's strength has always been their strength in depth.
"Just looking at the team. I know they're missing some world-class players but then they just bring in some more fantastic players. They're real fortunate to be in that position in this country."
