The men's group stage of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup starts to draw to a close on Friday night as the first two teams get to play their final fixture when New Zealand face Ireland at Headingley.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of Friday's match…
New Zealand v Ireland - Group C
Where: Headingley Stadium, Leeds.
When: 7:30pm (BST)
TV: BBC Red Button and BBC iPlayer
Referee: Robert Hicks (England)
Last meeting: N/A - First meeting
New Zealand's RLWC so far: Beat Lebanon 34-12, beat Jamaica 68-6
Ireland's RLWC so far: Beat Jamaica 48-2, lost to Lebanon 14-32
New Zealand's tournament has gone much as expected to this point, and they will presumably sweep an Ireland side whose big hope was that they would beat Lebanon in their second fixture and qualify behind the Kiwis. But Michael Maguire's side have something to prove to an extent after they were occasionally left wanting when Jamaica came up with some enterprising play in their fixture in Hull on Saturday. Still, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak's four-try display threw his name into the hat for a starting spot in the Kiwis' first-choice XIII.
For Ged Corcoran's Ireland this is the scenario they would have feared heading into the group stage. They now find themselves needing either to beat the mighty New Zealand or rely on minnows Jamaica pulling off an almighty shock against Lebanon at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday. Neither seems particularly likely, leaving the Wolfhounds on the verge of a third straight group stage disappointment.
Sportsman stat: In only one of their previous four visits to the World Cup have Ireland conceded more points than they've scored. Currently on +28 after two games, Ireland will need to preserve that record to have any hope of qualifying.
Betfred odds: New Zealand 1/500, Ireland 22/1, draw 50/1
*18+ | BeGambleAware
