Wigan Warriors v Sydney Roosters preview

The annual World Club Challenge pits the most successful club in the history of the fixture, Wigan, against the equal second-most (and equal most successful Australian franchise), the Roosters.

A win for Trent Robinson's men would see them join Wigan on four WCC titles. One-time Roosters star Adrian Lam now coaches Wigan and will be out to plot the Roosters' downfall and stretch Wigan's dominance of the fixture to five titles.

The two clubs met just five years ago, with the Bondi club winning the 2014 event. Wigan however won the WCC more recently, downing the Sharks just two years ago.

Wigan have plenty of survivors from that match still on the roster while the Roosters have five of their own (Jake Friend, Boyd Cordner, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Dan Tupou and Mitch Aubusson). Coach Trent Robinson has confirmed halfback Cooper Cronk is a confirmed starter after recovering from his shoulder injury in the off-season but Angus Crichton is a late scratching.

Wigan have yet to formalise a 17 but squad members who will likely be familiar to NRL fans include Test skipper Sean O'Loughlin, ex-Panther and Test regular Zak Hardaker, New Zealand Warrior turned Wigan Warrior Thomas Leuluai, one-time Eel and Shark Taulima Tautai, ex-Storm centre Willie Isa, ex-Titans Joe Greenwood and Dan Sarginson, and Test pivot George Williams.

Aussie clubs struggled mightily in the fixture for decades, winning just four of 16 from its 1976 inception through to 2008, but have eight wins and just two losses since.

Key match-up

Zak Hardaker v James Tedesco. NRL fans didn't see anything close to the best of Hardaker in his short stint at the Panthers in 2016. The 2015 Man of Steel would have played more than his current five Tests for England were it not for a chequered history off-field but at his best the 27-year-old fullback has a kit bag replete with silky ball skills and a superb running game. Campbelltown product Tedesco has been a tackle-busting prodigy since his first-grade debut but the improvement in his ball-playing and especially defensive capabilities in just a year under Robinson have been dramatic. Each is integral to their side's success.

For the Warriors to win

Wigan have a bit of an early leg-up due to being at home and not having to travel, plus they are two weeks into the season so will have blown the cobwebs out in a loss to St Helens before last week's big win over Leeds. Four of their six tries in that game were scored by their impressive forward pack; don't expect the same against the Roosters' notoriously staunch middle defence but Wigan's pack and particularly their three starting back-rowers form an impressive rotation – if they can start fast against a pack that is impressive but low on match fitness they could kick on with it.