Australia's poor tour opening and England's injection of talented youth has heightened anticipation that today's first test at Lord's marks the start of the most competitive Ashes series in years.
For a change, the weight of expectation rests upon the host squad, which includes six players yet to make their Ashes debut.
But some things haven't changed. Australia remains the strongest team in world cricket and still has the confidence to go with it.
Australia spearhead Glenn McGrath believes England's newcomers will be free of the baggage players of past generations carried.
"I think they all had a lot of scars from previous matches, whereas these younger guys don't have any," McGrath said.
"If we can get on top of these guys that haven't played test cricket against us before, I think we can maintain that through this series and definitely into the future," the paceman added.
"England do have a lot of guys that haven't played us before and I think they'll realize that it's a different level when you play Australia."
One of the new players is Kevin Pietersen, who is set to join middle-order counterparts Ian Bell, Andrew Flintoff and Geraint Jones in making his Ashes debut on Thursday.
Other squad members yet to face a highly experienced Australian side are Andrew Strauss and Chris Tremlett.
The South African-born Pietersen has averaged 51.25 in one-dayers against Australia this season.
McGrath, who is just one wicket away from becoming the fourth man ever to claim 500 test scalps, believes Australia has devised a plan to deal with the confident 25-year-old.
"It has been good to see Pietersen before the test match," McGrath said.
"The way he plays, I think he is very much suited to the one-day game. It will be interesting to see how he goes on at the longer format of the game.
"But we have seen a few things in the last few weeks to enable us to make a plan up of how to bowl to him that we think will be quite successful this summer."
While admitting he feels some pre-test nerves, Pietersen welcomed the chance to challenge the world's No. 1 team.
"I'm not going to say that I'm some superhuman idiot who doesn't get affected, of course I do, but I don't like to blow things out of proportion," Pietersen said.
"I'm going to enjoy my test debut and I'm going to go from there.
"There's no point me worrying and getting too fussed and being a nervous wreck."
Michael Vaughan's batting record at Lord's is impressive. The England captain has played just eight tests at the home of cricket but is only one century shy of Graham Gooch's record total of six from 21 matches.
Also comfortable at Lord's is Strauss, who scored a century on debut there against New Zealand last year when he replaced the injured Vaughan. Strauss has notched a total of 436 runs at an average of 87.20 at the hallowed ground.
McGrath pointed to Strauss and paceman Steve Harmison as potential threats when England tries to win the Ashes for the first time since 1986-1987.
Harmison said the tourists should be wary of England's team spirit.
"I'm not going to knock ex-cricketers who have played for England but I think there was a lot of selfishness, worrying about themselves rather than worrying about the team," Harmison said.
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