Fiji will conduct a damage limitation exercise in Sunday's second World Cup semi-final against red-hot favourite Australia at Sydney Football Stadium.
The bookmakers are giving the Pacific Islanders 50 points start against the defending champions, who ran up 128 points in their three pool matches.
World Cup winner Wally Lewis, who attended a fans evening in the build-up to England's semi-final against the Kiwis this week, knows another one-sided match could inflict more damage on the flimsy reputation of the 10-team tournament.
"Everyone knows what the result is going to be," said Lewis, who lifted the World Cup trophy in 1988 after leading Australia to a 25-12 win over New Zealand.
"Like everybody else, I hope to see an entertaining game of football that doesn't damage the future of the international game and Fiji too much.
"They will probably follow in the footsteps of what PNG did last week in trying to make sure the game is as tough as possible and the scoreline is kept to a minimum."
The bad news for the Bati is that Australia coach Ricky Stuart has stressed all along that he wants his team to maintain its ruthless streak.
He rested a host of regulars, including skipper Darren Lockyer, for last week's final pool game against Papua New Guinea, but all return to face the Fijians and they will be desperate to perform in order to keep their places for the final.
Lockyer struggled this week when asked to name five Fijian players but veteran front row forward Steve Price is delighted to see them grab a slice of the limelight.
"Fiji have been playing some exciting football and captured the imagination of the rugby league world to reach the semi-finals," Price said.
"It's great for rugby league and great for the guys playing for Fiji."
The Fijians lost to Scotland in their pool but finished top of the group thanks to a 42-6 hammering of France and victory over Ireland in the semi-final qualifier.
Their success has captured the imagination back home, where league has lived in the shadow of rugby union for the last 16 years.
"They have closed all the roads just to put in big screens so everybody can come and watch the game," said coach Joe Dakuitoga.
"Everybody is talking about it back in Fiji. It's now the number one game."