Italy take on Canada in a crunch Pool D match in Canberra on Tuesday 21 October.
Form guide
Italy will be looking to build on their impressive 36-12 win over Tonga on Wednesday as they strive to secure a top two place and qualify for the quarter finals.
For Canada it will be a test of character to see how well they bounce back from the 68-6 loss to New Zealand on Friday night.
Despite the loss and the 41-10 defeat to Wales in the opening round, Canada are still a chance to qualify in second place, but they must at least beat Italy to achieve that.
A feature of both teams’ play so far has been their defence, especially against the much-vaunted All Black attack, with each side pulling off some huge hits to nip try scoring opportunities in the bud.
Previous meetings
Canada have won two of the three matches they have played against each other. The last match-up in Italy on 11 November 2000 resulted in a 22-17 win to the Canucks.
In 1983 the teams shared the honours in a two-match Test series with Canada winning the first game 19-13 and the Azzurri the second 37-9.
In and out
Italy have only made one change to the team that started against Tonga, Mirco Bergamasco replacing Nicola Mazzucato on the wing.
In contrast Canada have retained only seven of the players that started against New Zealand.
Captain Al Charron and Colin Yukes return to lock the scrum in place of Ed Knaggs and Jamie Cudmore with Cudmore moving to blindside flanker in place of Jeff Reid, who in turn shifts to number 8.
There is a whole new front row in Rod Snow, Mark Lawson and Jon Thiel who come in for Kevin Tkachuk, Aaron Abrams and Garth Cooke.
In the backs Morgan Williams replaces Ed Fairhurst at scrum half, David Lougheed comes in for Sean Fauth on the left wing while Winston Stanley replaces Matt King on the right wing.
Key Players
Italy’s fly half Rima Wakarua will be hoping to reproduce the sort of form that saw him kick 21 points in his international debut against Tonga.
The Dallon brothers, inside centre Manuel and left wing Denis, will also be looking for an attacking display like the one they put on against Tonga, which saw them net all three of their team’s tries.
The Azzurri’s lethal loose forward trio of Andrea de Rossi, Aaron Persico and young Number 8 Sergio Parisse will pose a real threat to the Canadians in the fight for second phase ball.
Canada welcome the return of their experienced captain and chief ball winner Al Charron at lock for his 75th international match – a new Canadian record.
Tall blindside flanker Jamie Cudmore will offer another lineout option at the back.
The pack has been beefed up with a new front row of Snow, Lawson and Thiel to start. The trio bring a total of 100 international caps in an effort to counter the powerful front three of Italy's Andrea Lo Cicero, Fabio Ongaro and Martin Castrogiovanni.
Influential fly half Jared Barker will hope to carve off the sort of territory he managed against the All Blacks with his raking punts and inventive inside centre Marco di Girolamo will keep his opposites guessing.
What it means
Canada are sitting on the bottom of Pool D with no wins and no bonus points from their two games.
A loss against Italy would leave them with no chance to qualify for the quarter finals.
Italy are sitting third behind New Zealand and Wales on the ladder after the win and bonus point against Tonga and would be in prime position to qualify for post pool play with a win against Canada.
What they said
Italy coach John Kirwan said his team’s biggest challenge is to "establish themselves mentally" for the match.
Kirwan said he was impressed with Canada's performance on Friday against New Zealand despite the All Blacks defeating the Canucks 68-6.
The game confirmed to Kirwan that he thought Canada to be a "complete rugby side" which played a similar style to Tonga.
However he said Canada were stronger than the Pacific Island team and therefore the Azzurri would need to play an exceptional game to win.
Canadian captain Al Charron said he expects Italy to be a tough challenge.
"We've got to match them in the physical game and also match them in the execution...We need to know when to run the ball."
Centre Marco Di Girolamo is the only member of the Canadian squad to have started in all three RWC matches.
"He can smell a threat coming up and he can also smell an opportunity," coach David Clark said of him.
Match details
Referee for the match is New Zealand’s Paddy O’Brien who will be assisted by touch judges Kelvin Deaker (NZL) and Argentina’s Pablo Deluca.
Joel Dume is the man upstairs as the TV match official.