Australians have been urged to get behind the San Francisco 49ers after the controversial late arrival of their opponents ahead of Friday’s blockbuster NFL match in Melbourne.

The NFL is hoping to win over Australian fans as a sold-out crowd of about 100,000 descends on the MCG.

The 49ers have spent a full week Down Under, active around the city in preparation for Friday’s historic clash.

But the bleary-eyed LA Rams, who arrived on Thursday and will keep their body clocks on California time, are the designated “home” team.

NFL legend Jerry Rice called on Australian fans to join the San Francisco 49ers bandwagon, taunting the Rams over their planned hit-and-run mission.

“We got here early, we got here first. They were able to get acclimated and they’ve been out in the community and doing a lot of things with kids and showing up in different places,” he said.

“And when you look at the San Francisco 49ers, the fans are going to follow them, so I’m expecting that stadium to be the majority of Niners fans.”

The San Francisco 49ers have been training in Melbourne after arriving early. Photo: AAP

The Rams also arrived in London about 24 hours before a game in October, when they recorded a comfortable win over Jacksonville, and are adamant the plan will serve them well again.

“I’m hoping that they’re just completely exhausted,” Rice said.

“They decided to wait to the last second to come here, but I’m sure they’re going to be ready to play.”

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan caused a stir in March when he said there was “no pro” and “not much benefit” to his franchise travelling around the globe for their season opener.

Shanahan, who this week softened his stance, also previously lamented the fixture would otherwise have involved a much shorter trip to LA, in front of what is usually a pro-49ers crowd.

Rice urged the 49ers, led by quarterback Brock Purdy and star running back Christian McCaffrey, to feed off the crowd’s energy.

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime for you to be able to showcase American football and give the fans what they want and bring them to their feet,” Rice said.
“That was something that I always wanted to do.”

Rice has been blown away by the level of support for the NFL in Melbourne ahead of what is one of a record nine regular-season fixtures being played in international markets this season.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has expressed interest in having every team play once in a foreign market each season, for a total of 16 games.

“It’s growing and it’s just going to get bigger,” Rice said at a promotion for Dan Murphy’s at the NFL Kickoff Festival.

“You look at all the guaranteed contracts and the money that these guys are making … third-string players now are making the big bucks.

“That’s because the game’s growing and it’s going international.”

-with AAP