Fijian flair confronts Scottish stoicism in a crunch Pool B encounter tonight to decide which team advances to the quarter finals.
Form guide
Scotland started slowly with a 32-11 win over Japan in game one, moving up a gear in the 39-15 win over USA.
The Scots got a rude 51-9 shock from France in Sydney on 25 October and now face Fiji in a do or die match.
For their part Fiji had a narrow one point escape from the USA after being convincingly beaten 61-18 by France in their opening game.
However, their fortunes took a turn for the better in beating crowd favourites Japan 41-13 at the last start on 23 October in Townsville.
Previous meetings
Scotland have won two of the three matches played between the two sides.
However Fiji handed the Scots once of their biggest ever defeats, 51-26, in Suva on 26 May 1998.
Ins and outs
Wing Chris Paterson is at flyhalf for Scotland in one of six changes, two of those positional, to the starting line up convincingly beaten by France.
There are four new faces in the team, prop Bruce Douglas, lock Nathan Hines, blindside flanker Ross Beattie and winger Simon Danielli.
Veteran Gregor Townsend, flyhalf last week against France, moves to the centres to accommodate Paterson’s move from the wing.
"We just wanted to put two playmakers on the field," Scotland coach Ian McGeechan said when explaining why he made the switch.
Former Lions’ Lock Scott Murray is the biggest name to be dropped for the match. McGeechan said a loss of form from the Edinburgh forward and also the need "to balance the pack" were his reasons.
Fiji has made six changes to the starting XV. Scrumhalf Jacob Rauluni, who had indicated prior to the Tournament that he had retired from international rugby, is a key inclusion on the reserves bench after joining the squad this week to replace the injured Sami Rabaka.
Auckland utility back Isikele Nabewa, another squad replacement, has been named on the reserves bench. He joined the Fijian squad at training on Monday, 27 October.
Rupeni Caucau returns from a two match suspension to wear the No. 11 jumper. His wing partner is Aisea Tuilevu.
Key players
Fiji welcome the return of flying wing Rupeni Caucau from a two match suspension.
Norman Ligairi has played exceptionally well in his place on the left wing.
Powerhouse prop Tom Smith will want a return to his best form after an average performance by the Scotland scrum against France.
Simon Taylor, considered widely the best number 8 to come out of Scotland for many years, also has a point to prove after being on the end of a dominant performance by the French back row.
Captain Bryan Redpath will be looking to form a rapid combination with new fly half Paterson.
What it means
It is do or die. Scotland has never failed to reach the quarter finals in the four previous RWCs. Fiji last made the play off at the 1987 RWC. The winner will advance to a quarter final against Australia, the loser must qualify for RWC 2007.
What they said
Dougie Morgan, Scottish coach, on the mood in the Scotland camp following the loss to France:
"Obviously we were bitterly disappointed immediately after the game,” he said. “On the Sunday Scottish supporters came down for a barbeque and that changed the atmosphere."
On reports that Fiji consider themselves favourites for the upcoming match:
"It doesn't really matter who the favourite is, the bottom line for both sides is that it is a knockout match."
On whether Scotland has thought about having to qualify for the next RWC should they lose:
"We are not thinking about that. All we are thinking about is winning Saturday's game."
Scottish captain Bryan Redpath on motivation for the match:
“(It) is a massive one-off game, whoever wins goes through (to the Quarter Finals), that is a big incentive.”
Fijian scrum half Moses Rauluni on tonight's match with Scotland:
"This is the match of our Tournament. It is do or die. "
On Scotland's 51-9 loss to France:
"They didn't get a chance to shine because the French defence was so good".
On which team has impressed him most in the RWC 2003:
"France, because they normally start under par at these things. This time they have started at 100 miles an hour and both us and Scotland copped it from them."
Powerhouse Fijian prop Joeli Veitayaki on his feelings on the match against Scotland:
"It's like our final."
On whether he is confident of a Fiji win:
"You have to back yourself. If you can't back yourself you can't win the game."
On the new tight jerseys which all the Fiji team are wearing except him:
"I don't know whose idea it was to bring in those kinds of jerseys that they have right now but I would rather stick to the old ones. The old ones you could stretch, but the new ones you can't stretch and you look funny in them."
Fiji’s coach Mac McCallion on what it is like coaching the spontaneous Pacific islanders:
"It's pressure all the way. You're jumping up and down one minute, and your heart's in your mouth the next."
Match details:
The match kicks off at Sydney’s Aussie Stadium tonight, 1 November at 16:00.
Match officials:
England’s Tony Spreadbury is the man with the whistle. Andre Watson and Mark Lawrence are the touch judges. Ireland’s Donal Courtney is the TV match official.