Day nine of the Rugby League World Cup sees a shoot-out for second spot in Group C and a recovery mission for Samoa against tournament debutants Greece in Group A. It could be a pivotal day in the first phase of the men's competition.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s action…
Lebanon v Ireland - Group C
Where: Leigh Sports Village, Leigh.
When: 2:30pm (BST)
TV: BBC Two and BBC iPlayer
Referee: Adam Gee (Australia)
Last meeting: Ireland 16-40 Lebanon (Bridgend, 2009)
Lebanon's RLWC so far: Lost to New Zealand 12-34
Ireland’s RLWC so far: Beat Jamaica 48-2
This game represents possibly the closest call for qualification in the entire group stage, with the 11th and 12th-ranked teams in the world going head-to-head for a place alongside New Zealand in the quarter-finals. Ged Corcoran's Woolfhounds were convincing victors over Jamaica first time out but will know they probably need to raise their performance levels somewhat for this contest.
Mitchell Moses and Josh Mansour were among Lebanon's stars as they gave New Zealand a tough time of it for almost an hour in Warrington before a nightmare six-minute period saw them ship three tries and lose Adam Doueihi to a red card for dissent.
Sportsman stat: Ireland and Lebanon drew both of their meetings in qualifying for the 2008 World Cup, 18-18 in Dublin, then 16 apiece in Dewsbury. Those two ties account for 50% of the draws in Lebanon's history and 67% of Ireland's.
Betfred odds: Lebanon 7/5, Ireland 4/6, draw 20/1
Samoa v Greece - Group A
Where: Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster.
When: 5pm (BST)
TV: BBC Red Button and BBC iPlayer
Referee: James Child (England)
Last meeting: N/A - First meeting
Samoa's World Cup so far: Lost to England 6-60
Greece's World Cup so far: Lost to France 12-34
Matt Parish's side will consider that their World Cup starts now after an undercooked version of themselves was hammered by England in Newcastle last weekend. They are still on the lookout for their first win in the competition in seven attempts, having lost a quarter-final to Fiji in 2013 and then escaped their group with a single draw against Scotland in 2017. Their last victory was a 22-6 Group B success over France in Perpignan in 2013. Braden Hamlin-Uele and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow have returned home after suffering tournament-ending injuries at St James' Park.
Greece shocked many by putting up a decent fight against France in their opening fixture, but their main aim for the remaining two games is likely be to keep the score down.
Sportsman stat: Only two of the seven teams to lose their opening group game in 2017 progressed to the quarter-finals. England lost 18-4 to Australia and qualified from Group A in second place, while Samoa were beaten 38-8 by New Zealand and progressed from third spot in Group B.
Betfred odds: Samoa N/A, Greece 100/1, draw 100/1
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
