Australia vs. Fiji: Prediction and Preview for Rugby League World Cup Fixture

Australia continue their pursuit of regaining the Rugby League World Cup this Saturday with an evening fixture against Group A leaders Fiji.

The Bati were allowed to run riot against Ireland last weekend, but the Kangaroos' comeback performance at the Millennium Stadium is undoubtedly the story of the pool so far.

With that win in hand, Australia now look the most likely side to come out on top of the pool and advance to a priority quarter-final place, Fiji being the strongest obstacle left in their way of doing so.

That being the case, read on to find out just which side is the most likely to come out on top of this Group A clash.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 2

Time: 8 p.m. GMT/4 p.m. ET

Venue: Langtree Park, St. Helen's

Fiji Player to Watch: Akuila Uate

Living up to his billing, it was speedster Akuila Uate who starred from the wing against Ireland last week, running in for a hat-trick against Mark Aston's side, two of which were scored in the last 20 minutes.

If Australia are to wrap up arguably the biggest attacking threat that Fiji have in their arsenal, it's vital that Uate see as little room open up ahead of him as possible.

Jarryd Hayne has come on to the Australian wing in place of Brett Morris for this encounter and will be the man hoping to help Greg Inglis in caging the Fijian flyer, but it's a big task for the 25-year-old to take on in his first appearance of the tournament.

Australia Player to Watch: Michael Jennings

The NRL's top try scorer in 2013 comes into Tim Sheens' line-up after sitting out the Kangaroos' opener, with the view of working his way into further team consideration.

The Sydney Roosters centre has been an indomitable force to be reckoned with this year and it's likely that the Bati's defence won't be quite up to the task of restraining Jennings' injection of power and pace. 

Prediction 

This fixture holds one of the biggest gorges in talent between two sides that this tournament is likely to see and Fiji come to Langtree Park as massive outsiders.

The win over Ireland last week may have impressed, but Australia will be a different challenge altogether, with Sheens' men set to run riot over their Southern Hemisphere cousins.

Prediction: Australia 38-8 Fiji