Head to head: Showdown
LET THERE BE HITS - Christopher Reive
It's funny that a couple of players align themselves with Tonga rather than New Zealand for the World Cup, which the rules allow them to do, and it's like they've committed treason.
If Jason Taumalolo wasn't one of them, would anyone really care? Probably not. But after a bit of back and forth, the match at Hamilton's FMG Stadium Waikato shapes up to be one of the most intense the Kiwis have played in years.
Since Taumalolo and Manu Ma'u were named in the Tongan squad, this has been the one pool-play match no one wants to miss.
We've seen already that both sides are full of talent and will play some physical football, which means we're likely to see a lot of those bone-crunching hits we love so much.
And there's going to be plenty of heart on show. It's no secret that members of the Kiwis squad were hurt by some of their team-mates choosing to play for Tonga and that emotion will surely translate onto the pitch.
But this is a Tongan side loaded with top-level rugby league players who will be out to make a statement against the No 2 ranked team in the world.
This is also an important match in setting up quarterfinal fixtures. Both New Zealand and Tonga are yet to drop a match and the winner of this one will top their group.
Topping the group would see a quarterfinal match up against either the third-placed team in Group A - most likely Lebanon - while the second-placed finisher takes on whoever wins between Italy and Fiji in Group D this weekend.
And, with that, the top-placed team in Group B would avoid a potential semifinal match against Australia. So, there's plenty on the line.
Both sides will be more or less at full strength, with Simon Mannering and Thomas Leuluai coming back into the fold for the Kiwis, and as two of the three leading point-scoring teams, there won't be any shortage of excitement.
Taumalolo, Ma'u, Andrew Fifita, Michael Jennings, Konrad Hurrell. While they're running without centre Solomone Kata, who will likely miss the rest of the tournament with a suspected broken ankle, there's more than enough in this side to test the Kiwis.
So, instead of having pool play where the Kiwis waltz through fairly easily as they have in the past, we now get matches like this one which a spectator can actually get excited about.
I, for one, am expecting fireworks.
WHITE FEVER - Joseph Pearson
Consider what's at stake for the All Whites and the Kiwis on Saturday.
Football's World Cup is the grandest global sports tournament on the planet. I love rugby league but its World Cup is far from the game's pinnacle event.
New Zealand's chances of reaching their third World Cup (after 1982 and 2010) hinge on a positive result against Peru at Westpac Stadium.
The All Whites can't assure qualification for next year's tournament in Russia, but they can certainly lose all hope ahead of the return leg in Peru if the White Noise are silenced in Wellington.
The odds are stacked against New Zealand when they face Peru, who are ranked 10th in Fifa's world rankings after matching it with South American football giants like Argentina, Colombia and Chile in qualifying.
The All Whites are ranked 122nd and haven't beaten a non-Pacific Island nation since November 2015.
But what's that old saying? It's a funny old game.
No sport in the world springs surprises like football and the World Cup is testament to that.
Few could have tipped that Costa Rica, a country with a similar population to New Zealand, would be one penalty shootout away from a semifinal against Argentina in Brazil three years ago - and that's after topping the tournament's 'Group of Death' featuring former world champions Uruguay, Italy and England.
Holland pooped that party, winning 4-3 on penalties, but it's now time to get excited for New Zealand's own football fairytale.
Panama, footballing minnows from Central America with a population smaller than New Zealand, finished above the United States to reach their first ever World Cup.
The yahooing Yanks won't be attending next year's tournament for the first time since 1986.
Neither will reigning Copa América champions Chile, three-time finalists Holland, and reigning African champions Cameroon.
This is it, New Zealand. Time to believe. Time to hope. Time to cheer.
Seriously, please cheer. Don't be shy. We're not watching the All Blacks.
An upset can happen because this is football and it's every All White's chance to emulate Rory Fallon's heroic header.
And Peru, who've not reached the World Cup since 1982, don't have their star striker after losing Paolo Guerrero to suspension for a doping violation.
Let's be honest, New Zealand v Tonga has only really become interesting because of Jason Taumalolo ditching the Kiwis.
And it can't possibly top that special night in Hamilton last Saturday when Tonga and Samoa beautifully united the two Pacific Island nations together in a sporting occasion I'll never forget.
Wellington will turn white, hoping to replicate that famous night when New Zealand beat Bahrain 1-0 to reach the 2010 World Cup, and the All Whites need that white wall of noise again.
AT A GLANCE
Kiwis v Tonga
Saturday November 10, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton. 5pm kick-off
TAB Odds: Kiwis $1.40 Tonga $2.80
All Whites v Peru
Saturday November 10, Westpac Stadium, Wellington. 4:15pm kick-off
TAB Odds: All Whites $4.75 Peru $1.70 Draw $3.50
