THOUSANDS will descend on Saints' stadium tonight as the side has a tilt at becoming world club champions against NRL champions Sydney Roosters.

The game is Saints' first World Club Challenge for five years, their last one against Russell Crowe-owned South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2015 when the Hollywood megastar famously ditched the Oscars to spend the evening in St Helens.

St Helens Star:

Russell Crowe at the 2015 World Club Challenge

The match is a big event for the town as Saints play the world club showpiece in the town for the second time.

Saints earned the right to play in the showpiece after triumphing in the 2019 Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford as they beat Salford Red Devils 23-6 in Justin Holbrook's last match as coach.

St Helens Star:

Saints lifting the Super League trophy at Old Trafford

Kristian Woolf has since taken the reins and gets an early shot at winning silverware as they take on the back-to-back NRL champions, coached by former Catalans boss Trent Robinson.

Victory would mark a third world crown for Saints, who previously won the title in 2001 and 2007, on both occasions defeating the Brisbane Broncos in Bolton.

The Roosters are the reigning world champions after beating Wigan last year to claim their fourth title.

The Roosters previously beat Saints 38-0 in the 2003 contest.

The clubs also played in the first unofficial World Club Challenge at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1976 when Eastern Suburbs, as they were called, defeated Saints 25-2.