England’s World Cup 2018 campaign starts here, when Nigeria, clad in their dazzling new kit which sold out within minutes of its release on Friday, arrive at Wembley.
Gareth Southgate has insisted the team he names will not necessarily be the one that starts the World Cup against Tunisia on 18th June but there are places still up for grabs.
Jordan Pickford starts between the sticks with Jesse Lingard part of an attacking midfield that also includes Raheem Sterling after a controversial and headline-grabbing week.
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Gareth Southgate has told his England players there are still World Cup places to play for against Nigeria on Saturday.
When the full-time whistle blows at HQ there will be little more than two weeks to go until the Three Lions' tournament curtain-raiser against Tunisia in Volgograd.
And while Southgate has settled on the bulk of the XI which will start in Russia, there are still big incentives for those who impress against the Super Eagles at Wembley or versus Costa Rica at Elland Road five days later.
"I don't think these are trial matches in that a bad performance rules someone out but there are opportunities for people to really stake a claim in areas of the pitch where there is huge competition for places," he said.
The identity of Southgate's goalkeeper should prove telling, with Jordan Pickford and Jack Butland vying for the number one role ahead of the uncapped Nick Pope.
Pickford has played just twice for the senior side, while Butland is the grizzled veteran of the group with seven appearances.
Given that lack of experience, whoever takes the field at Wembley on Saturday must surely be in pole position to take the gloves for the Group G opener.
"That will become apparent over the next five days," was Southgate's opaque response when the goalkeeping position was raised.
"They are inexperienced in terms of senior international games but Pickford and Butland have the perfect path in terms of junior international tournaments and a lot of Premier League football under their belts."
There is also some jockeying for position behind captain Harry Kane.
Raheem Sterling has done enough, both with Premier League champions Manchester City and in a pair of lively England outings in March, to take one attacking slot meaning Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli could be scrapping for the other shirt.
And Lingard, who will definitely start against Nigeria, is buoyed rather than bowed by the prospect of representing his country at the highest level.
"At the moment, I don't feel any pressure. I am enjoying my football and playing freely," he said.
"As long as we believe in ourselves and the country backs us we will go out and do well. It is your nation and your country and when you get selected, it's an honour putting on the shirt."
Fabian Delph can expect a lengthy run-out, having snuck into the final squad despite winning the last of his nine caps back in 2015.
Southgate is keen on the Manchester City midfielder's versatility, attitude and discipline but needs to see how he fits into the England system.
Jordan Henderson's absence - he and Liverpool team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold have been given extra time off following their Champions League heartbreak - creates an obvious gap.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is another who is likely to see action after impressing in his two previous appearances.
In defence Harry Maguire may be treated with kid gloves after sitting out training for two days this week due to a muscular issue, and Phil Jones has left the group to attend the birth of his second child.
That means a possible return for Chelsea skipper Gary Cahill, the most experienced member of the squad who earned a reprieve after being axed in March.
"There is a real competition for places in every position," said Southgate.
"We need to focus on the 23, not just the starting XI. You know where people are at physically, and people stay in if they're playing well. If players are in on reputation or name, that breeds a bit of discord.
"When you have a clear rationale, a clear understanding of how you want to play, that makes the decisions easier."
Gareth Southgate has backed Raheem Sterling to come through the controversy surrounding his gun tattoo and stay focused on final preparations for the World Cup.
The 23-year-old Manchester City forward has been under intense scrutiny during the past week after it emerged he had a tattoo of a gun on his right leg.
Sterling explained the new ink in an Instagram post, revealing it is a tribute to his late father.
The Football Association has supported Sterling since the body art was highlighted on The Sun's front page earlier in the week and the player trained with the tattoo on display.
Southgate was quizzed on Sterling's tattoo at his Friday afternoon press conference ahead of tonight's friendly against Nigeria at Wembley.
Having rotated the armband throughout his tenure, Southgate has settled on Harry Kane for the tournament, edging out the claims of Liverpool's Jordan Henderson.
He has scored five times in his four previous outings as skipper, suggesting he is not weighed down by the role, but now would be the perfect time for a classic 'captain's performance'.
Kane will be the figurehead and focal point in Russia so it is vital he arrives in good form.
The staggered ending to the season means workload and fatigue are likely to figure high in team selection.
Liverpool pair Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold will play no part having been granted time off following the Champions League, while the FA Cup finalists from Manchester United and Chelsea may be treated with kid gloves after their own extra exertions.
That could mean opportunity knocks for other members of the squad who have found themselves further down the pecking order in previous get togethers.
In Raheem Sterling England have a versatile, Premier League title-winning player coming off the back of his most prolific season in front of goal.
Everything should be pointing towards a defining summer with the national team.
But the front-page treatment of the gun tattoo on his right leg has once again weighed the talented forward down with unconnected criticisms.
How much the row has affected him, or otherwise, may become apparent over 90 minutes.
The age old policy of arranging friendlies who are geographically close to tournament opponents continues to be rolled out around the globe - see Panama lining up Northern Ireland as their Three Lions proxies earlier this week.
Nigeria, therefore, represent stand-ins for England's Group G African opponents Tunisia.
Expect to see some hints about Southgate's proposed tactics for that tournament curtain-raiser, in terms of tactics, system and style.
Nike describe it as: "A tribute to their 1994 debut on the world stage, the 2018 home kit features the traditional green torso, with the Super Eagles-inspired black and white sleeves.
"To modernise the shirt, the feather pattern has been abstracted, and the colours updated for a bold look on the pitch.
"Turned into an international phenomenon by artists Wizkid, Skepta and Not3s, the 2018 Nigeria home kit was iconic before it even took the pitch."
It's certainly proved popular. Over three million were pre-ordered and it sold out in minutes.
Despite that there a fair few on show at Wembley today.
Nigeria aren't here to make up the numbers by any means- they mean business.
"We have a lot of great players who have a lot of personality," vice-captain Ogenyi Onazi said ahead of today's game.
"We have talents outside of football. I play the drums, I play the bass guitar.
"It is a game everybody has been looking up to. Everyone is waiting for this game."
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What time is kick-off?
The game will kick off at Wembley at 5.15pm BST.
Where can I watch it?
The game will be shown on ITV, with coverage starting at 5.00pm BST.
Odds?
England: 2/5
Nigeria: 19/2
Odds: 62/17
