England and Australia will face each other at Melbourne Cricket Ground in their opening game of the World Cup.

The stage is set and the anticipation is almost over - the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup is here.

While New Zealand and Sri Lanka formally kick off proceedings in Christchurch this evening (February 13th), all eyes will be firmly focused on Saturday's action when Australia take on England at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground. This showpiece event is sure to open the World Cup up with a bang.

The Aussies are overwhelming favourites going into the tournament as they hunt their fifth World Cup success. However, England will be hungry for revenge after being embarrassed by Australia in the last Ashes. It is also an opportunity to put a miserable 2014 behind them and begin a new era of one-day international (ODI) cricket.

For this match there is no better venue in world cricket than Melbourne Cricket Ground. The old stadium is set to be packed to the rafters with over 90,000 cricket fans expected to see these old foes rekindle their rivalry.

England go into the match as underdogs but captain Eoin Morgan explained that they will not be intimidated when it comes to playing in front of what will no doubt be a boisterous Aussie crowd in Victoria. Morgan is also confident that England's terrible recent record against Australia in ODIs will not be a factor.

Ahead of the game, Morgan said: "We have guys with a huge amount of experience that have beaten Australia before. Some of this team have won consecutive Ashes series. We've been in their position before and our time will come again."

England have lost 13 of their 15 ODIs against Australia Down Under and Morgan is desperate to put the record straight and is quietly confident that the team could make an impression on the tournament despite being relative outsiders.

Speaking to Test Match Special, Morgan said: "It's not too much of a stretch, we are more than capable of winning this World Cup. We are very dangerous, an emerging, young side with a lot of talent.

"Given the freedom that we are trying to play with, if we play our best cricket on Saturday, we will win."

England have given a good account of themselves Down Under so far with a pair of convincing wins over India during the pre-tournament Tri-Series but were unable to overcome the Aussies. They will once again have to be at their best if they are to leave Melbourne with a victory.