FIJI FIRED UP FOR TONGAN BATTLE

Fiji can take a giant step towards the 2003 World Cup when they face Tonga in the heat of Teufaiva Stadium in Nukualofa on Friday in a tri-nations series.

An away win for Greg Smiths team would also put them in a handy position for July`s Pacific Rim finals tournament in Japan.

At the end of this five-week series, which also includes Samoa, the top two finishers will qualify for the World Cup.

They also advance to the semi-finals of a revamped Pacific Rim championships in Tokyo. There they will face Canada and most likely Japan, who need only to beat Taiwan on May 27.

But home advantage weighs heavily in Pacific Island rugby, and nowhere does a crowd get behind their team more than at Teufaiva.

Tonga haven`t beaten Fiji since 1996 when they surprised everyone with a 32-18 win here. One week earlier, the Fijians had annihilated World Cup quarter-finalists Samoa 60-0, but the local Tongans laid their bodies on the line in front of King Taufaahau Tupou IV, the worlds largest monarch.

And in last year Pacific Rim tournament when Japan, Canada and the United States also played in this round-robin, Tonga were the only team to defeat eventual champions Samoa.

Smith believes he has a stronger line-up than the one that won a gripping encounter here last year 25-22 just seven days after the armed takeover of parliament in the Fijian capital Suva had prompted a late change of venue.

His namesake skipper Greg Smith, at hooker, missed that match, as did Canberra-based loosehead prop Henry Qiodravu and big forwards Api Naevo and Alivereti Mocelutu.

"On the day, it`ll come down to the skill and composure of the players," Smith said. "It is critical we do well in the set pieces, have good ball retention and string several phases together to put pressure on them."

Fiji`s backline certainly looks a might more experienced.

First-choice fly-half Nicky Little has Wales-based Seremaia Bai and World Cup 1999 star Vili Satala outside him, while the back three comprise dazzling winger Vilimoni Delasau, new cap Dan Baleinadogo and strong-running fullback Kameli Natoba.

The only other new cap in the Fiji team is openside flanker Iosefo.

Koroiyadi.

The Tongans, so unpredictable, can lift their game immeasurably when the king is present.

Only five of the run-on team are locally based, the others have flown in from New Zealand and Wales.

Strapping Auckland prop Tevita Taumoepeau fronts the scrum with Tau Fainganuku of Marlborough (NZ) and Bay of Plenty`s OAleki Lutui at hooker.

Four of the backs play their club rugby in Wales halfback Sione Mone Tuipolotu, skipper/flyhalf OElisi Vunipola, big centre Salesi Finau and experienced outside centre Siua Taumalolo.

Former New Zealand sevens speedster Taunaholo Taufahema takes the right wing spot with OAisea Havili on the left.

The last two meetings between these two teams have gone right down to the wire, and the indications are that Fridays sell-out fixture will be a similarly close affair.