Ireland are confident they can succeed where Wales failed when they take on Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby on Sunday.
The Kumuls got their World Cup campaign off to a blazing start with a 50-6 hammering of John Kear's side in front of a hostile crowd at a humid national stadium.
Ireland will have to contend with similar conditions but they will not be caught unawares in the way that Wales were and they can also call on the inside knowledge of coach Mark Aston, who has worked with a number of PNG players over the years at Sheffield.
"I've been associated with this country for 10 years now with Menzie Yere, Garry Lo and Mark Mexico and I've watched plenty of PNG Hunters as well so I know what they're about," Aston said.
"That helps and to get a look at them against Wales was great for us.
"We're not going to be shocked on Sunday. We know what we've got to do and the big fellas have a massive job because they're going to ramp up and they're going to challenge us.
"We've got a plan and, if we execute it, then who knows?"
Sunday's game is practically a group decider, with the Kumuls expected to beat the tournament's least experienced side, the United States, in their last match.
Ireland will have plenty of confidence after becoming the only home nation to win on the opening weekend, courtesy of an impressive 36-12 demolition of Italy in Cairns.
"It was something that we talked about," Aston said. "We wanted to be the first home nation to win a game.
"I can't speak highly enough of the players and how they've gone about their business. It was a big effort from all involved.
"We talked about last week being like a semi-final, well this is our Grand Final. If we are going to progress and get a chance of playing England in the quarter-finals, we've got to win."
PNG veteran Paul Aiton, the former Wakefield and Leeds hooker who is now with Catalans Dragons, knows all about the Ireland players and was impressed by their performance against Italy.
"Ireland looked really good," Aiton said. "They've got a lot of good players that I've either played against or with.
"I know what they'll bring and they played really well in the heat in Cairns as well which will help them. It will be quite similar here."
Aiton says the Kumuls are thriving on the atmosphere generated by a passionate crowd in a country where rugby league is the national sport.
"I've played in a lot of big games but nothing compares to this because of how much it means to the whole country," he added. "That definitely inspires you.
"The whole week leading up to the game you can feel how excited people are about it and that makes you want to go our there and play that much harder, play with emotion."
