England will try to upset the odds and a resurgent Australia when the first Test begins in Brisbane on Thursday.
Australia enjoyed a productive morning on day one of the eagerly awaited Ashes series against England as they reached 109-1 at lunch in Brisbane.
The Aussies have not lost a home Ashes opener for 20 years and have won 11 of their 12 Tests since relinquishing the famous urn after last year's 2-1 loss.
Justin Langer was the main thorn in England's side, hitting 10 boundaries in an unbeaten 68.
During the same period England have won only one out of their four Test series.
The sole breakthrough came when England skipper Andrew Flintoff had Matthew Hayden caught at second slip for 21.
But skipper Andrew Flintoff said: "Not many lads in our dressing room have played a Test in Brisbane before. There are no scars from previous games here."
Spinner Ashley Giles bowled the final over before the interval after being preferred to Monty Panesar.
The all-rounder added: "They're a fine side and to beat them in 2005 we had to play exceptionally well.
It was a tidy enough effort from a bowler who last played Test cricket in Pakistan a year ago, but one sensed the Australian batsmen would not have been quite so respectful had it not been so close to the interval.
"For some of us who played in that Ashes series we have a point of reference, something we can look back to and take some confidence out of."
Much was made before the game about the need to try and seize the initiative right from the outset and that was clearly the aim of Australia's openers after Ricky Ponting won the toss and opted to bat.
It would be dangerous to try to draw a game of cricket and go in thinking we have to get this one out of the way Andrew Flintoff
Langer, in particular, was ready to chance his arm against England's new ball bowlers and collected four boundaries in the first two overs from Steve Harmison, prompting the Durham paceman's early withdrawal from the attack.
The tourists are hopeful batsman Ian Bell will be fit, despite being hit on the wrist in practice on Tuesday.
Hayden opened his account with a glorious off-drive from the bowling of Matthew Hoggard but was content thereafter to play second fiddle.
If that is the case England will have one main quandary regarding their line-up.
Langer picked the gaps through the off-side field
They are concerned about the depth of their batting, meaning the more experienced Ashley Giles could get the nod ahead of fellow left-arm spinner Monty Panesar.
Fortunately for England, Harmison's replacement James Anderson settled into a good rhythm after his first ball had been pulled away for four by Langer.
That plan has led to accusations of negativity towards the visitors, particulary from Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne.
But the total went past 50 in the 11th over as Langer sliced Hoggard past point, prompting Flintoff to bring himself into the attack.
But the skipper insists they are not simply looking for a draw, even though a drawn series would see them retain the trophy.
There was no sign of his ankle problems in an opening over bowled from round the wicket which saw him not far short of full pace.
"You can't go into a Test match thinking we'll come out of this 0-0. You have to go in there trying to win the game and that's something this side have done well," Flintoff explained.
Langer had an anxious moment on 49 when he under-edged an attempted square cut just past off stump in Harmison's second spell but went to his 30th half century in Tests by pushing the first ball of the next over from Flintoff for an easy single.
"It would be dangerous to try to draw a game of cricket and go in thinking we have to get this one out of the way."
The cheers of Australia's fans soon turned to groans as Flintoff, so often a galvanising force for England, found the edge of Hayden's bat with an excellent angled delivery and Paul Collingwood held the chance safely.
Whoever is selected, the tourists will be happy to finally get going in arguably the most eagerly anticipated series in history.
Flintoff's full-on celebrations as Hayden departed for 21 were indicative of his frustration at England's lack of success in the first 90 minutes of play.
To walk out with my blazer and cap on, to do the toss and lead the lads out is going to be a special moment Andrew Flintoff
But Harmison continued to look below his best and Ponting scored his first runs by emphatically pulling a long-hop away to the mid-wicket boundary and then punching the next one away through mid-off for another.
Flintoff is relishing the prospect of pitting his wits against the world champions but does not want his side to get carried away in an attempt to recreate the drama of last year's Ashes contests.
England's response was to remove Harmison again, leaving him to reflect on pre-lunch figures of 6-0-37-0, but Langer dabbed replacement Hoggard away to third man to take the total past 100.
"The hype surrounding this series has been going on for what seems ages. We're one day away from what could be the biggest Test series ever," he added.
The final run of the session went to Ponting, who swept Giles round the corner for a single to move on to 11 not out.
"Now it's time to get out on the pitch and play some cricket. We just can't wait to get underway.
"To walk out with my blazer and cap on, to do the toss and at some point lead the lads out is going to be a special moment, not just in my career but in my life.
"We can't try to play an unbelievable game of cricket or the perfect game. Hopefully it will be a spectacle but the most important thing is we perform."
Australia captain Ricky Ponting is also keen to move on from the hyped build-up and get out on to the field.
His team came in for fierce criticism on their return from England last year but he insists that will not weigh on their minds.
"We're over that now and it's a matter of performing well in the five Test matches starting tomorrow," he said.
"I don't think there's any more pressure on me or on the players to win the Ashes back. It's just about a hard, intense few weeks of Test match cricket.
"For 12 or 14 months we have all been looking forward to this day coming around.
"I've heard Shane Warne saying he's sick of talking about it, he just wants to get out and play - and I'm in the same boat."
He's probably worked harder on his game than I've probably seen anyone work that's been out of the side for a long time Ricky Ponting on Michael Clarke
All-rounder Shane Watson's withdrawal through injury means Michael Clarke will slot in as Australia's sixth batsman.
The young right-hander struggled in last year's Ashes and managed only 51 runs in three Test innings in Bangladesh in April but Ponting has faith in him to come good.
"He's probably worked harder on his game than I've probably seen anyone work that's been out of the side for a long time.
"He's given himself every chance and he's ready to get out there and perform at Test level."
The hosts will go in with four frontline bowlers, the last of whom will be either Stuart Clark or Mitchell Johnson.
"They've both got very strong cases," Ponting added. "Stuart got the man of the series award in his only Test series he's played in South Africa.
"He was well and truly the pick of our bowlers over there and has started this season very well and Mitchell has done everything asked of him in the one-day form of the game.
"He's improved in leaps and bounds over the last 12 months and grown within himself. He's a lot more confident bowler than he was 12 months ago."
Australia (from): Ricky Ponting (capt), Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Adam Gilchrist (wkt), Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath, Mitchell Johnson.
England (from): Andrew Flintoff (capt), Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Ed Joyce, Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen, Geraint Jones (wkt), Ashley Giles, Matthew Hoggard, James Anderson, Steve Harmison, Monty Panesar, Sajid Mahmood.
