Australia overcame Japan 34-5 at Newcastle's No.2 Sportsground which not only gave them their first win on Australian soil but their first win since the 2017 Rugby World Cup. 

However, Wallaroos captain Grace Hamilton said her side would be looking to significantly improve on their first Test effort.

"We have to back it up and that’s the hardest thing to do,” she said.

"I know it was really special not only for us but for girls who have been in the Wallaroos squad for a number of years. So it was good to get the win, first on home soil, but we hope to get another one on Friday.

"That first half was really tough and they put a lot of pressure on us. But we absorbed that really well so for us to get out there, hopefully, we won’t have so many handling errors, but we can get out there and do what we want to do and spread it wide, but also take it forward like we did.”

On Wednesday, Wallaroos Coach Dwayne Nestor named two changes to his starting XV squad. Lori Cramer was brought onto the wing, with Eva Karpani promoted to the starting front row while Queenslander Christina Sekona is in line to make her debut via the bench. 

The Wallaroos are hopeful they can draw a strong crowd at North Sydney Oval after playing in front of almost 4000 fans in Newcastle. The team are currently playing in a stand-alone format but will also have double-headers against New Zealand in Perth and Auckland.

While women's teams are moving away from doubleheaders so they are no longer curtain raisers, Hamilton likes the idea of continuing to play both.

"It's great, but I think it’s great for us to do double-headers and be involved in that environment as well,” she said. 

"It means collaboration, we have a one club environment with the boys as well. So double-headers are great but standalone are also great. The more Tests we can play the better it is for rugby.”

The Wallaroos will be chasing a maiden Test Series win on home soil this Friday night.  

The match will be broadcast LIVE on FoxSports and Kayo. 

Wallaroos squad (North Sydney Test)

1.Emily Robinson, 2. Averyl Mitchell, 3. Eva Karpani, 4. Michaela Leonard, 5. Alisha Hewett, 6. Millie Boyle, 7. Emily Chancellor, 8. Grace Hamilton (c), 9. Cobie-Jane Morgan, 10. Trilleen Pomare, 11. Lori Cramer, 12. Ariana Hira Herangi, 13. Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, 14. Samantha Treherne, 15. Mahalia Murphy

Reserves: 16. Ashley Marsters, 17. Liz Patu, Wests, 18. Christina Sekona*, 19. Rebecca Clough, 20. Shannon Mato, 21. Georgia Cormick, 22. Arabella McKenzie, 23. Mhicca Carter