Tonight's clash between the Kangaroos and the Kiwis at Hunter Stadium in Newcastle will be the first match in charge of Australia for coach Mal Meninga.
He guided Queensland to a record eight consecutive State of Origin wins and now he wants to end a run of three successive wins for New Zealand against Australia that has lifted the Kiwis into number one in the world.
Corey Parker played under Meninga in State of Origin and he's confident his skills will translate into the international arena.
"I believe he's the right man for the job and he instill that passion and pride within the jersey. And I guess the other thing too being such a short week too you'e really got to lean on the guys that have been here for a period of time and he's certainly done that this week."
One of those experienced men is underpressure South Sydney star Greg Inglis.
His form has been patchy so far this season, but teammates including Sam Thaiday love the fact the media have spent so much time pointing out his struggles this season.
"I'd love for you to keep on talking about him and keep on bringing him down. Because every time that happens he ends up playing a great game so please write some bad stories about him because I'm looking forward to seeing how he's going to react out on the field because that's what G.I. does best."
This weekend there's two more test matches being held in Sydney between Pacific Island nations - the culmination of a week of community engagement and celebration.
Saturday will see the Junior Kangaroos take on their Kiwi counterparts, before Fiji and Papua New Guinea lock horns.
Samoa will clash with Tonga in the second test.
In the English Premier League the world has marveled at the success of Leicester City in clinching the title against the traditional English powerhouses. The Foxes' match against Everton this weekend will be a well earned celebration for the side that pulled off one of the biggest surprises ever seen in English - or world - football for that matter.
The team will be presented with the trophy after the match, but the club's Italian manager Claudio Ranieri has already started to look forward to next season.
He knows it will be difficult but he believes the side can upset the odds once again.
"The foundations are very very solid. We know very well next season we have to fight for 10th position to go over. But OK, we have to do our best. I'm positive and then I want to fight."
In the AFL this weekend the Greater Western Sydney Giants will be looking to continue their strong start to the season at Fremantle where they've never won a game.
However the big win against three time Premiership winners Hawthorm last week has had many experts suggesting they are real contenders for crown this season.
But Sydney Swans Co-Captain Jarrad McVeigh says although the prospect of a finals showdown with their cross town rivals would be great, the Giants shouldn't get too carried away.
"It'd be great for NSW and Sydney, the derbies are coming along really well and we had a good fan base out here last time we played them and hopefully that rivalry will continue to build. You know they're playing really good footy, but its only early."
The Giro d'Italia cycling race gets underway later tonight, and SBS will have full coverage.
There are many big names lining up for the race which is arguably only behind the Tour de France in terms of importance.
It can be an excellent guide to who's in form and for 2012 winner Ryder Hesjedal of Canada the race will always hold a special place in his heart.
"I love Italian cycling, the passion for the sport the history. If you have good days in italy I mean its like nothing else, so its ve ry special to me and i don't know if winning the Tour would be better."
In super Rugby this weekend, the leading Australian team the Melbourne Rebels have a bye which gives the Brumbies the chance to leapfrog them at the top of the Conference with a win tonight against the Bulls of South Africa.
The New South Wales Waratahs welcome another South African outfit in the Cheetahs tomorrow.
And in Netball the Queensland Firebirds go into the next round of action on top of the Trans Tasman Championship table, and seemingly unstoppable for a third straight crown.
They welcome the Northern Mystics to Brisbane tomorrow afternoon and go into that clash on the back of a record 18 straight wins.
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