OPINION: Rugby league's trans-Tasman rivalry is about to reignite in a serious way.
For the first time since Australia downed New Zealand at Wollongong in October 2019, the old foes will face off again at Leeds on Saturday morning, only this time, the emotions and the stakes are much much higher.
There's been the customary media hype, with reports that the NZ Kiwis flights have already been booked home slammed as "disrespectful" by captain Jesse Bromwich.
They needed no extra excuse to fire up for this one - but they certianly got one anyway. It's hard to imagine the likes of Bromwich, Nelson Asofa-Solomona or James Fisher-Harris taking too kindly to the idea that they've been written off.
As the week has progressed, the focus has narrowed and the tension has crept up day by day.
Team management made a point of getting everyone that didn't need to be there - from ground officials, tournament organisers and media - out of the stadium as soon as the allocated time for captain's run filming had finished.
Nothing has been left to chance for this do-or-die fixture... and why would it?
Coach Michael Maguire has built for this moment since he took over, after the fallout of the Kiwis' 2017 World Cup exit.
With the draw dictating only one of these teams would reach the Old Trafford final next week, the other will have to grin and bear a gruelling flight home, wondering what might have been.
Kings will be made and egos will be bruised all on the same day.
The Kangaroos are favourites and deservedly so, but when has that ever bothered a New Zealand side?
The thought of depriving their neighbours their first World Cup final appearance since 1954 is incentive enough.
Knocking the Aussies off their perch? How good.
This is the match the tournament and the international game badly needs - and we need more. More internationals, more ANZAC tests.
Now is the time to reignite the international game.
We saw the emotion and passion, when Tonga and Samoa faced off last week. Footage of the two nations' war dances went viral.
The game's administrators have a responsibility to not let this opportunity pass by. The same goes for this weekend.
The code's historic best teams - and arguably the two best teams in the world right now - will have a packed Elland Road on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
The tension will be palpable. The nerves likely unbearable.
Good luck.
James Regan is Newshub's rugby league reporter at the World Cup. Catch game live on Spark Sport and free-to-air on Three, or join us at 7:45am Saturday for live updates of the NZ Kiwis v Australia semi-final
