With rankings points at stake in two of the three matches and passion and pride to play for in the other, not to mention the chance to press forward claims for selection to RWC 2019, a lot rides on the opening weekend of the Americas Rugby Championship, a competition which continues to go from strength to strength.
Underdogs Chiles play defending champions USA in a top versus bottom encounter in the suburbs of Santiago, but Los Condores go into this, the fourth edition of the ARC, with a new coach in Pablo Lemoine and new hope.
Meanwhile, it will be fascinating to see how Uruguay's game against Canada pans out, especially after Los Teros got the better of Canada just under 12 months ago on the way to booking the Americas 2 ticket at the Canucks' expense.
As for the Argentina XV, they will also be after revenge when they take on a Brazil side that shocked them in last year's Sudamerica Six Nations.
Chile (29) vs USA (12)
The game will be played in a new test venue, the Santiago Bueras stadium in Maipú, on the outskirts of Santiago.
Chile have had two months of intense preparation under new coach Pablo Lemoine, and their aim is to regain respect from their continental rivals after a couple of extremely fallow years.
Former Uruguayan forward and coach Lemoine wants to reposition Chilean rugby as a high performance rugby-playing nation and even if this ARC 2019 is a bit too early in his tenure, there are already encouraging signs coming from Los Condores' camp that better times may be around the corner.
In three previous ARC games, the USA have been totally dominant, scoring 25 tries and only conceding two in three straight wins. This difference is also noticeable in the World Rugby Rankings to the extent that an Eagles win will come with no material gain, as there are 19 rating points between the teams.
In the event of a Chilean win, the Eagles could drop three positions and Los Cóndores rise two, depending on the margin of victory.
The ARC has been an important launching pad for emerging talent over the course of its short history with 41 players making their test debuts in this tournament since its inception in 2016. That figure will rise by at least six, with half-dozen players from Chile making their international bows, while, for the USA, New England Free Jacks fly-half Tagh Leader is in line to make his debut if he comes off the bench.
It could also be a memorable match for Eagles hooker, Joe Taufete’e. If the 26-year-old Californian crosses for his 15th test try, he will equal Keith Wood's record for test tries by a hooker.
Argentina XV vs Brazil
Argentina were victims of two remarkable comebacks in 2018, the senior Los Pumas side surrendering a big lead to Australia in the Rugby Championship. However, a precedent was set a few months earlier when Argentina XV let the Sudamerica Six Nations crown slip from their grasp, Brazil coming back from 33-3 down at half-time to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat after scoring 33 unanswered second-half points. It was some way for Brazil to claim their first international tournament.
Fortunately for Argentina XV, there are not too many from this weekend's line-up who were present that day. Only captain Lautaro Bávaro, playing in his 14th ARC game, and replacement scrum-half Gregorio del Prete, bear the scars of that shock defeat.
Fully aware his team cannot repeat such a dismal performance, and after a month-long preparation, coach Ignacio Fernández Lobbe has named eight tournament debutants in his match-day squad. The previous three ARC matches between both sides have clearly favoured Argentina XV: 42-7, 79-7 and 28-8, with a 23-3 try count in their favour.
Brazil will field 11 players from the team that won in Buenos Aires, including the seasoned half-back partnership of Lucas Duque and Joshua Reeves and dangerous centres Moisés Duque and Felipe Sancery. Missing will be injured hooker and forward talisman Yan Rosetti.
Uruguay (17) v Canada (20)
A renovated Estadio Charrúa will host its first rugby international under floodlights as Uruguay look to continue their recent dominance over Canada.
Los Teros won home-and-away at the start of last year to claim the Americas 1 spot at RWC 2019, clinching their passage to Japan with a nail-biting 32-31 victory at the same venue.
With the weather forecast looking good, another humdinger of a game is expected, especially as Canada are out to settle a few scores.
"Uruguay have got a strong forward pack, their scrum is good, and they like to put the pressure on. And, in loose play, their backs will try to attack everything," said Canada's fly-half Pat Parfrey. "So we'll try to be patient and get the ball out of our half and into theirs.
"We're really excited to play them. We lost the Rugby World Cup qualifier to them and we're trying to get back on the front foot after our repechage win.
"Momentum is critical for us. We were definitely on a downslope but we've won three (tests) in a row and if we can keep that going, it would be excellent for us, especially going into the World Cup."
The home side will be boosted by three players who last weekend made their Mayor League Rugby debuts in the United States and are back with Los Teros – Santiago Arata, Andrés and Juan Echeverría. Unavailable through injury are the experienced backs Gastón Mieres and Leandro Leivas.
Canada have a lot to gain from this game. As well as adding to their growing confidence, a win of more than 15 points would see them ltrade places with their opponents in the rankings, jumping from 20th to 17th. Uruguay, with a home win, will not be able to move from 17th, regardless of the manner in which they win.
Having capped 35 players in three previous ARC tournaments, there are two potential new caps for Canada in 20-year-old scrum half Will Percillier and 22-year-old forward Nakai Penny, both named on the bench. The team will be led by Lucas Rumball, who made his test debut in the first ARC, in 2016.