Australia say they will not be underestimating Samoa ahead of their quarter-final clash in the Rugby League World Cup this weekend.
Last week, New Zealand were the victims of a big upset against Tonga and coach Mal Meninga has both been talking about the dangers posed by the Pacific Islanders.
"It'll be a tight affair," said Meninga. "Samoa haven't played well in the tournament so they have a lot to prove.
"We want to entertain and play footy. That's what the World Cup is all about - it's a showpiece and we want it to be an entertaining game."
The world champion Kangaroos have not yet lost a match under Meninga, with the coach enjoying eight wins from eight matches. The last game Australia lost was to New Zealand in the Anzac Test in May 2015. The green and gold have not been defeated by another side, other than the Kiwis, since Great Britain back in 2006 and France in 1978.
Asked if he had ever considered what it would be like to be on the end of a loss to a tier two nation, Meninga joked: “If I start doing that I’d lose plenty of sleep.”
With Australia without the likes of injured stars Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott and Greg Inglis, and with 2013 World Cup winning Kangaroos Jarryd Hayne, Andrew Fifita, Michael Jennings and Josh Papalii playing for Fiji, Tonga and Samoa respectively, some believe the gap between the tiers is closing. Fiji will meet New Zealand in the quarter-finals while Papau New Guinea will tackle England and Tonga clash with Lebanon.
