Wallaroos captain Grace Hamilton wasn't sure if she or her Japanese opponents were more excited about meeting some of Australia's wildlife at Blackbutt Reserve on Monday.
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It was the last thing green and gold teammate Emily Chancellor had on her mind after recently arriving on the international rugby union scene.
And Cherry Blossoms skipper Saki Manami couldn't split a favourite between the native fauna or the upcoming women's Test match at Newcastle's No.2 Sportsground.
But before Saturday's opening whistle all three players and Japan's Makoto Ebuchi had the chance to get up close and personal with both a koala and - Australia's very own namesake - a wallaroo.
"I was out there with a wallaroo and a koala and it's the first time I've done that," Hamilton said.
"I think I was a bit more excited than anyone else, but it was really great."
Chancellor also found herself on a debut of sorts.
"What a fun experience," she said.
"Patting a wallaroo or a koala is one of the last things I would have thought of before playing, but it was pretty cool."
When asked to pick between the game itself and the marsupials, with a bright smile Manami said "it's a hard question".
"It's the first time for me to touch and take a picture with them [koala, wallaroo] so I enjoyed it very much," she said.
Newcastle lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes was on hand to welcome the representatives to one of the city's iconic venues.
The visit came after the Wallaroos trained at Merewether's Townson Oval on Monday morning.
Japan's squad are staying in Charlestown but training at Ernie Calland Oval and Hunter Sports High School.
"It is very nice [here]," Manami said.
"In Japan it's very hot right now because it's summer. Coming to Newcastle it's a nice and cool temperature. It's nice weather and it's nice to be here."
This weekend marks the second women's rugby union Test played in Newcastle, following on from Australia v England at No.1 Sportsground in 2001.
Work on outer stairwells and car park facilities were continuing at No.2 Sportsground on Monday.
Rain is expected to ease this week with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting mostly sunny conditions for Saturday with a top of 17 degrees Celsius.
Kick-off for the main game is 3pm.
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