Australia - Key players

BBC Sport Online looks at five Wallabies on whose shoulders their hopes of lifting the Tri-Nations crown for the first time rest.

John Eales
Club: Queensland Reds
Height: 2.00m
Age: 30
Position: Lock
International career: 72 caps, 2 tries, 33 penalties, 31 conversions

John Eales' nickname sums up the Australian captain perfectly. He is called Nobody, as in Nobody's Perfect, and this goal-kicking lock has it all.

His all-round athleticism belies a man of his size and his knack of securing ball on the opposition's throw guarantees his side a wealth of possession.

Having lifted the World Cup last year he will be desperate to add the Tri-Nations trophy as his career winds down.

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George Gregan
Club: ACT Brumbies
Height: 1.72m
Age: 27
Position: Scrum-half
International career: 57 caps, 11 tries

Always mentioned when a debate about who the world's best scrum-half George Gregan has been an ever-present in the Australian side since his debut in 1994.

He boasts a swift pass, pace across the turf and an ability to scythe down attackers with last-ditch tackles.

His battles with New Zealand's Justin Marshall and South Africa's Joost van der Westhuizen will be a riveting sideshow to the main action.

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Stephen Larkham
Club: ACT Brumbies
Height: 1.87m
Age: 26
Position: Fly-half
International career: 33 caps, 14 tries, 2 conversions, 1 drop goal

Stephen Larkham will forever be remembered for his match-wiunning drop goal in the World Cup semi-final against the Springboks but his skill level goes much deeper than being handy with the boot.

His instinctive style of taking on the defence at every opportunity has recast the role of a fly-half and his defence is as bone-crunching as that of loose-forwards.

The unpredictability of Larkham marks him down as a player to watch, but also one who his team-mates hope will display enough tactical nouse for the Wallabies to win tight matches.

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Stirling Mortlock
Club: ACT Brumbies
Height: 1.90m
Age: 23
Position: Wing/centre
International career: 3 caps, 3 tries, 10 penalties, 3 conversions

After enduring a nightmare debut against Argentina - he missed all of his five kicks at goal - Stirling Mortlock has prospered in the Wallaby side.

He grabbed 29 of Australia's 44 points in their crushing win over the Springboks in the Mandela Cup and proved himself in the pressure-cooker of international rugby.

He has secured a wing role for the Wallabies, but his ability to break defensive lines means that his international future could be at his preferred midfield position.

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David Wilson
Club: Queensland Reds
Height: 1.87m
Age: 33
Position: Flanker
International career: 75 caps, 13 tries

David Wilson's international swansong before he joins Harlequins next season is bound to be an emotional time for the man who has had more than eight years in the national side.

The openside flier may have lost some of his pace over the years but his resilience has never been in doubt.

His ability to recycle ball in the crucial area of the break down has made him a world star and his rivalry with New Zealand's Josh Kronfeld is bound to be a feature of the series.