Manu Samoa claimed the 'best of the rest' tag behind the Junior All Blacks in 2006 and currently occupy third position with eight points - one more than Fiji and three than Tonga - following a hard fought 13-3 win over Japan in Sendai last weekend.
Coach Michael Jones admitted they "got out of jail" thanks to Lome Fa'atau's only try of the match, which gave them a first win since their opening 8-3 defeat of Fiji at a rain soaked Apia Park on 19 May.
Manu Samoa end their campaign on home soil in Apia with Tonga the visitors, a side boosted by their second half comeback against Fiji last weekend that clinched their first IRB Nations Cup win of the year and lifted them off the bottom of the standings.
Tonga may not have beaten their hosts in seven years, but with confidence at a high after a first victory in Fiji since 1993, Quddus Fielea's side will be looking to end that run of eight successive defeats, the last of which was a 36-0 loss in last year's tournament.
No holding back
This weekend's match will also be an emotional time for Manu Samoa legend Brian Lima in what is reported to be his last Test on home soil. The veteran wing, on course for a record fifth Rugby World Cup in France, is recalled after missing two matches through injury.
Add into the mix that Manu Samoa and Tonga will meet again in Pool A at Rugby World Cup 2007 on 16 September, so both sides will be eager to strike a psychological blow over their fellow islanders ahead of their encounter in Montpellier.
"Nothing will be held back and I think that the win against Fiji will give them a lot of confidence leading into the match in Apia," former Tongan player Willie Lose told Total Rugby Radio earlier this week.
"The conditions won't be easy but Samoa are also a side that I think are going to be hurting from their performance against Japan last week and, having spoken with Michael Jones during the week, he just couldn't believe that they could play so badly and not follow the game plan.
"There is never ever an easy match when these two nations do get together.
"Whether it is a precursor, or how much you can read into it towards the Rugby World Cup I am not 100 percent sure, but one thing I do know is that they will both be 150 percent committed to the cause and they certainly won't hold back."
Tabua's challenge for Fiji
Neither will Fiji as they look to bounce back from that defeat against an Australia A side that saw their unbeaten record and title hopes in their tournament debut year shattered by a 50-0 loss to the Junior All Blacks last weekend.
Fiji coach Ilivasi Tabua, who played for Australia at Rugby World Cup 1995, has made five changes to the starting line and named second row Kele Leawere captain as he challenges his players to end on a winning note in Suva on Saturday.
"Australia A can expect a different game from what we put up against the Wallabies and the Junior All Blacks," Tabua, whose side lost 49-0 to their Rugby World Cup 2007 opponents Australia earlier this month, told the Fiji Times.
"We will open up the game using the ball to gain control. We want to finish well in the competition. The players know that positions for the Rugby World Cup are on the line. There is a big job ahead and I expect them to do well."
Centre Seru Rabeni and sevens star Semisi Naevo both come in, while wing Filimone Bolavucu and scrum half Jone Daunivucu will make their Fiji debuts with another two uncapped players - Peniasi Tokakece and Sisa Waqa - on the bench.
Australia A need to perform
Australia A coach Laurie Fisher has also made five changes from the Junior All Blacks defeat, recalling fly half Berrick Barnes and flanker David Pocock who missed that painful loss having been the star players a week earlier in a 71-10 win over Japan.
With places in John Connolly's World Cup squad still up for grabs, Barnes will be partnered at halfback this weekend by Josh Valentine, who swaps places with IRB Under 19 Player of the Year Josh Holmes.
Fisher has named a lively back three in Digby Ioane, Lachlan Turner and Cameron Shepherd, while rugby league convert Clinton Schifcofske - the leading point scorer in the competition - returns on the bench after sitting out last weekend with an calf injury.
"Last week we were disappointing right across the park and all the guys know they need to perform this week to have any chance of getting on the plane to France, so I expect a much more committed effort against Fiji," Fisher admitted.
The Junior All Blacks meanwhile have made nine changes, one of them positional, from the side that overpowered Australia A in Dunedin, one of them forced with co-captain Marty Holah having remained in New Zealand for a family wedding.
Champions ring the changes
Daniel Braid, who scored the final try against Australia A last weekend, comes in at flanker to take over the captaincy from Holah, while Wyatt Crockett, Corey Flynn and Campbell Johnstone form an all new front row to face Japan on Sunday.
Halfbacks Andrew Ellis and Stephen Donald caught the eye in Dunedin with impressive and commanding performances, but they drop to the bench as Jimmy Cowan and Stephen Brett are given a chance to show what they can do.
Tane Tu'ipulotu comes into the centre to partner Ma'a Nonu at the expense of Sam Tuitupou, while Rudi Wulf takes his place on the right wing with Scott Hamilton moving to fullback after scoring his third try of the competition last weekend.
The Junior All Blacks have scored 25 tries in their previous four matches - five times that by Japan - but co-coach Colin Cooper knows that the home side will be equally determined to finish on a high against a side that beat them 38-8 in Dunedin last year.
"They put on a spirited performance when we played them in Dunedin last year and I am sure they will be determined to do well in front of their home crowd," admitted Cooper.
Injury concerns for Japan
Former All Black World Cup winner Kirwan again makes changes to his team amid injury concerns with prop Masahito Yamamoto and Yasunori Watanabe coming into the forward pack, while Hare Makiri moves from flanker to number 8 and second row Hitoshi Ono takes over the captaincy.
The two changes in the backline see Yuki Yatomi recalled at scrum half and wing Hirotoki Onozawa, who is the most capped player in the squad with 34 Tests, following his return in place of Kosuke Endo.
"At this time it is tough for me to select players for the match on Sunday, as we have some injured players at the moment," Kirwan said. "Of course we feel some pressure and have changed some players, but I feel there shouldn't be many problems as we have the training.
"For Samoa and Tonga matches, the aim of our game plan was to attack their strength. However, for the match this coming Sunday, we will try everything we have at this moment. As for defence, players will have to be patient and react to what they are facing. Ultimately, I would like to see the best performance from all of the players."
Squads for IRB Pacific Nations Cup final round:
FIJI: 1. Alefoso Yalayalatabua 2. Sunia Koto 3. Henry Qiodravu 4. Ifereimi Rawaqa 5. Kele Leawere (Captain) 6. Semisi Naevo 7. Aca Ratuva 8. Sisa Koyamaibole 9. Jone Daunivucu 10. Waisea Luveniyali 11. Filimone Bolavucu 12. Seru Rabeni 13. Kameli Ratuvou 14. Isoa Neivua 15. Norman Ligairi.
Replacements: 16. Vereniki Sauturaga 17. Apisai Turukawa 18. 19. Dale Tonawai 20. Moses Rauluni 21. Sisa Waqa 22. Gabiriele Lovobalavu.
AUSTRALIA A: 1. Rodney Blake 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau 3. Nic Henderson 4. Alister Campbell (Captain) 5. James Horwill 6. Hugh McMeniman 7. David Pocock 8. David Lyons 9. Josh Valentine 10. Berrick Barnes 11. Lachlan Turner 12. Ryan Cross 13. Junior Pelesasa 14. Digby Ioane 15. Cameron Shepherd.
Replacements: 16. Sean Hardman 17. Gareth Hardy 18. Dean Mumm 19. Jone Tawake 20. Josh Holmes 21. Sam Norton-Knight 22. Clinton Schifcofske.
JAPAN: 1. Masahito Yamamoto 2. Yuji Matsubara 3. Tomokazu Soma 4. Hitoshi Ono (Captain) 5. Luke Thompson 6. Yasunori Watanabe 7. Glen Marsh 8. Hare Makiri 9. Yuki Yatomi 10. Eiji Ando 11. Hirotoki Onozawa 12. Shotaro Onishi 13. Yuta Imamura 14. Christian Loamanu 15. Bryce Robins.
Replacements: 16. Yusuke Aoki 17. Ryo Yamamura 18. Takanori Kumagae 19. Takamichi Sasaki 20. Koichi Ohigashi 21. Kousei Ono 22. Go Aruga.
JUNIOR ALL BLACKS: 1. Wyatt Crockett 2. Corey Flynn 3. Campbell Johnstone 4. Hoani MacDonald 5. Tom Donnelly 6. Jerome Kaino 7. Daniel Braid (Captain) 8. Sione Lauaki 9. Jimmy Cowan 10. Stephen Brett 11. Anthony Tuitavake 12. Tane Tu'ipulotu 13. Ma'a Nonu 14. Rudi Wulf 15. Scott Hamilton.
Replacements: 16. Derren Witcombe 17. John Afoa 18. Kieran Read 19. Mose Tuiali'i 20. Andrew Ellis 21. Stephen Donald 22. Sam Tuitupou.
SAMOA: 1. Justin Vaa 2. Mahonri Schwalger 3. Census Johnston 4. Filipo Levi 5. Kane Thompson 6. Daniel Leo 7. Ulia Ulia 8. Semo Sititi (Captain) 9. Steve So'oialo 10. Loki Crichton 11. David Lemi 12. Seilala Maposua 13. Elvis Seveali'i 14. Brian Lima 15. Lolo Lui.
Replacements: 16. Donald Kerslake 17. Muliufi Salanoa 18. Leo Lafaialii 19. Justin Purdie 20. Junior Poluleuligaga 21. Alesana Tuilagi 22. Lome Fa'atau.
TONGA: To be announced
