Rugby League World Cup Today: Previewing Papua New Guinea v Wales on Monday

The men's group stage of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup starts to draw to a close on Friday night as the first two teams get to play their final fixture when New Zealand face Ireland at Headingley.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of Friday's match…

Papua New Guinea v Wales - Group D

Where: Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster.

When: 7:30pm (GMT)

TV: BBC Two and BBC iPlayer

Referee: Gerard Sutton (Australia)

Last meeting: Papua New Guinea 50-6 Wales (Port Moresby, RLWC 2017)

Papua New Guinea's RLWC so far: Lost to Tonga 18-24, Beat Cook Islands 32-16

Wales' RLWC so far: Lost to Cook Islands 12-18, Lost to Tonga 6-32

Papua New Guinea are big favourites to clinch the second qualification spot from Group D, with their performance against the Cook Islands last time out setting them apart from the other group members behind Tonga. They are hit by the absence of Mckenzie Yei through suspension after a high tackle offence in their 32-16 in Warrington last Tuesday. Rhyse Martin remains their key man in the pack though, while Nene Macdonald is their best hope in the three-quarters, albeit Rodrick Tai has been causing a stir so far in the 2021 World Cup.

Wales still haven't recorded a win in the World Cup since reaching the semi-finals in 2000, when they held a 12-point lead over 11-time champions Australia. John Kear's part-timers will fancy their chances of causing PNG some trouble but they will need to raise their levels still further from their two courageous performances thus far if they are to end their 22-year duck.

Sportsman stat: Since taking that 20-8 lead against Australia in the 2000 semi-finals, Wales have played nine and lost nine in World Cup finals tournaments, scoring just 94 points in total and conceding 328.

Betfred odds: Papua New Guinea 1/66, Wales 12/1, draw 40/1