Wallaroos winger Desiree Miller is feeling at home in Manchester as the Australians look to keep their good memories in the north of England rolling.
Remarkably, the match in Salford is the first for England's Red Roses, who will host the Wallaroos on Sunday (AEST) to kick-start the WXV Global Series.
Watch every second of the Wallaroos WXV Global Series live and on demand via Stan Sport.
But for the Australians, the area is very familiar, having set up base in the region before the 2025 Rugby World Cup.
They went on to thump Samoa 73-0 at CorpAcq Stadium, their largest-ever World Cup win.
Whilst the task is significantly harder against the defending World Cup champions, Miller and the squad were taking the comforts out of their return.
“We're actually staying, I think, about a five-minute walk from where we stayed in the World Cup, so a similar area, and it's really nice to be back," she told reporters.
“I love Manchester, got great memories here, World Cup debut, so love the city, love the vibe it brings. It reminds me a bit of Sydney, maybe Melbourne, so a little bit of home away from home and it's been really great.
“We've played here and they haven't, but it's still a home nation, so I think they're going to get a lot of support wherever they go around the country.
“I think we'll have it out for us, but I'm really positive about the way we've been training, and I think a lot of the girls can take a lot of confidence from playing here last year and bring that into the game.”
Miller has every reason to have fond memories, scoring a hat-trick in the demolition.
This haul now has Miller closing in on a special record for the Wallaroos as the first to reach 100 Test points.
On 96, the winger is also the team's all-time leading try-scorer, but says the records aren't on her mind.
“It's not really something I've been keeping an eye on," she admits.
“I’m just working on myself as a player and how I can benefit the team. I'm a winger and a finisher, so that's my role, but to reach something like that will be pretty cool.
“Hopefully it'll happen sooner rather than later, but I'm just grateful for every time I get to run on the field and the points are just a bonus."
