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It's make or break for Wales coach Gareth Jenkins
The scenario for Wales and Fiji is simple - the winner moves on to the World Cup quarter-finals and the loser goes home.
Wales have started sluggishly in their first three Pool B games and had to come from behind to beat both Canada and Japan.
But there was no way back against Australia after the Wallabies had surged into a commanding 25-3 half-time lead and Wales cannot afford another slow start against a Fiji side who can pounce on the smallest mistake.
Head coach Gareth Jenkins has been building towards this match for his entire 16-month tenure and when the flak was flying he urged the Welsh public to judge him on the World Cup.
Saturday is judgement day. If Wales win, Jenkins will have achieved the minimum expected requirement and can throw the kitchen sink at South Africa in the last eight.
If Wales lose, it is the end of the road for their World Cup ambitions and, possibly, for their coach. Fiji will head to Marseille and Jenkins will have failed.
"There has been a realisation of how significant this game is - and it is hugely significant because of the fact it is the game that decides who goes to the quarter-final," said Jenkins.
"It has been a big week. It is a big game. We know what it means. We are a game away from touching the quarter-finals. The winner will take the honours. We all realise that."
Defeat would leave Jenkins with a record of just six wins and a draw from 20 Test matches in charge and facing huge questions over his future.
"There are people who make the call on that, not myself," said Jenkins, who is under contract until the end of the 2008 Six Nations.
"On a personal level, this is where you want to be. These are exciting times."
Wales veteran Colin Charvis believes his team are improving all the time but he is acutely aware they will need to match the Fijian ferocity and passion to secure passage into the last eight.
"We've really got to be on edge if we want to beat Fiji because they will come out with guns blazing,'' said Charvis.
"It is going to be difficult. They will be rallied by the fact they did so well against Wales the last time we met (when Wales won 11-10 in 2005).
"They will probably say they were robbed of the game because Wales' points came so late.
"Fijian rugby has come along a lot. They have got world-class finishers in the backs and people who can handle the ball very well but they also control their set piece better than they used to.
"This is a must-win game for us and it will take a big effort from us and that is what we need. We want to get into the quarter-finals and that is what we must aim for.''
Charvis will win his 93rd Test cap against Fiji on Saturday but insists he has no plans to join Gareth Thomas in the 100 club.
And he puts little stock in his try-scoring record either. Charvis has scored 21 times for Wales - more than Gerald Davies and Gareth Edwards - and needs one more to hold the world record for a forward.
The magnitude of the game was clearly evident in the Fijian coach's team selection on Thursday, with 11 of his front-line players who did not play against Australia last week returning to the fray.
This Fijian team has a lot to play for, having last qualified for the last eight of the tournament in 1987. The Islanders are intent on ending a twenty-year drought.
Captain Mosese Rauluni said his side could win.
"I think it's the biggest game of our lives but we have put Wales to the sword before and we were unfortunate to lose that match (11-10 defeat)," said the Fiji skipper.
"I have all confidence in the boys and they just have to go out and think about their own job and not worry about the other team."
So it's clear that Rauluni is determined to lead Fiji into the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday and keep the minds of his countrymen off politics and on rugby.
Fiji's army commander and coup leader Frank Bainimarama assumed control of the country for the second time nine months ago.
Fiji has officially been in a state of emergency, declared by Bainimarama's government, since the return of ousted prime minister Laisenia Qarase from exile early in September.
But while Fiji is suffering political upheaval, Rauluni and his men are aiming to beat Wales.
"Whatever happens back in Fiji, it is rugby that brings the whole nation together,'' said Rauluni.
"We have the support of both leaders. Even though there are problems at home we know all the people will be watching and supporting us. We are trying to create a bit of history for ourselves.''
Fiji opened their World Cup campaign with unconvincing victories over Japan and Canada before fielding a second-string side in last weekend's defeat to Australia.
But they are back to full strength to tackle Wales and for all the analysis Gareth Jenkins' men may have done, fly-half Nicky Little warned it will not be enough.
"The potential is there for one big performance,'' said Little.
"We haven't set the world alight yet and it frustrates me because we know we can.
"It just depends whether we are sleeping under the coconut tree or rowing the boat.
"We can't do anything to make sure we are rowing tomorrow. It is not in our character.
"We won't know ourselves until kick-off what the mood is and then you guys will know!''
Fiji are playing up their role as one of rugby's small nations and Little insisted Wales, with all the expectations heaped on the back home, could struggle under the pressure.
"The pressure is more on Wales because of their own expectations. That will be pressing down on them during the game,'' said Little..
Players to watch:
For Wales: The stage couldn't have been set any better for Gareth Thomas to mark his 100th game for his country - the first Welshman to achieve this feat. Alfie will want to, together with a top-notch performance, cap his century of games for Wales with a victory over the Fijians. The Welsh veteran has been in sublime form of late and his performance will be essential if the Dragons wish of moving on to the quarter-finals comes true.
For Fiji: Full-back Kameli Ratuvou has had a World Cup to savour after putting in game-breaking performances whenever he has taken the field. Rested against Australia, he will be expected to shine brighter than ever against a Welsh outfit boasting a number of match-winners themselves. Ratuvou has speed to burn, and will be using the Stade Chaban-Delmas as his own private race track - whether he drives like a Ferrari or a Toro Rosso remains to be seen.
Head to head: Tom Shanklin (Wales) v Seru Rabeni (Fiji). Fiji's game-plan will be to get the ball through the backline as quickly as possible and run Wales off their feet. Shanklin will have to overcome a physical Rabeni who, besides posessing phenominal pace, has giant shoulders on him which means big tackles on opposition. Just ask Australia's Scott Staniforth who was taken out of the game by Rabeni with his first touch of the ball. Shanklin is by far the hardman of the Wales backline. The Cardiff Blues star will be one of the only players to stand up to Fiji's muscle man and perhaps give Rabeni a taste of his own medicine in the process. Shanklin is also tryless at the World Cup and will no doubt want to end that drought if given the opportunity.
Previous results:
2005: Wales won 11-10 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
2002: Wales won 58-14 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
1995: Wales won 19-15 at the Cardiff Arms Park
1994: Wales won 23-8 at the National Stadium, Suva
1986: Wales won 22-15 at the National Stadium, Suva
1985: Wales won 40-3 at the Cardiff Arms Park
Prediction: Fiji have all the hallmarks to cause another upset at this Rugby World Cup, and Wales could just be the team to do it against. However, Welsh passion may just be the difference between the two sides as the Fijians - like they have done throughout the tournament - will eventually run out of steam. A Fiji team that has won just three of their last nine fixtures shouldn't really pose a serious threat to Welsh ambitions of progressing from Pool B. Wales to win by 10 points.
The teams:
Wales: 15 Gareth Thomas, 14 Mark Jones, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 James Hook, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Dwayne Peel, 8 Alix Popham, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Colin Charvis, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Chris Horsman, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins
Replacements: 16 Thomas Rhys Thomas, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Ian Gough, 19 Michael Owen, 20 Michael Phillips, 21 Jamie Robinson, 22 Dafydd James
Fiji: 15 Kameli Ratuvou, 14 Vilimoni Delasau, 13 Seru Rabeni, 12 Seremaia Bai, 11 Isoa Neivua, 10 Nicky Little, 9 Mosese Rauluni(c), 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Semisi Naevo, 5 Ifereimi Rawaqa, 4 Kele Leawere, 3 Jone Railomo, 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Graham Dewes
Replacements: 16 Vereniki Sauturaga, 17 Henry Qiodravu, 18 Wame Lewaravu, 19 Aca Ratuva, 20 Jone Daunivucu, 21 Norman Ligairi, 22 Sireli Bobo
Date: Saturday, 29 September
Venue: Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux
Kick-off: 15:00 (14:00 BST, 15:00 GMT)
Referee: Chris White
Touch judges: Steve Walsh, Bryce Lawrence
Television match official: Lyndon Bray
Assessor: Michel Lamoulie
