While Canada face the prospect of a heavy defeat against New Zealand on Wednesday, coach Kingsley Jones says the showdown with the three-time World Cup winners is a "dream" for his players.
The No. 1-ranked All Blacks will aim for their first bonus-point win of the tournament against the 22nd-ranked Canadians as the World Cup moves to Oita Stadium on Japan's southwestern main island of Kyushu.
Welshman Jones, whose side lost 48-7 to Italy last Thursday in their opening Pool B match, said the Canucks are under no illusions about what they are up against and relish the challenge.
"We totally understand what we're facing on Wednesday, but we look forward with excitement," Jones said.
"To play against some of the best players in the world...it's what they dream about. They want to measure themselves against the best."
(Josh Larsen of Canada wins a lineout during the first half of a Rugby World Cup Pool B match against Italy.)
In the previous meeting between the two sides, New Zealand scored 12 tries on their way to a 79-15 win at the 2011 World Cup.
Despite the big deficit, the outing was a memorable one for Canada's Conor Trainor, who scored two tries in the match in Wellington.
The 29-year-old, who will start at outside center on Wednesday, hopes to replicate that performance in Oita.
"That was my first World Cup, my fifth game in a Canada jersey, so I didn't really know how big it was, how special it was at the time," Trainor said.
"But eight years on it's an unreal memory, something I'll hold close to me for the rest of my career, and I'm hoping to keep that strike rate going into the upcoming game."
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has made 11 changes to the XV that started the thrilling 23-13 win over South Africa in their first pool match in Yokohama on Sept. 21.
While anything other than a comfortable win for New Zealand looks unlikely, a number of All Blacks players will be fighting for their places in the team as the tournament progresses.
Among them is winger Rieko Ioane. The 22-year-old was previously the top choice at No. 11, but lost his starting spot in a shakeup following New Zealand's 47-26 loss to Australia in August.
(George Bridge of New Zealand breaks through the defense on his way to scoring a try.)
His replacement George Bridge staked a strong claim to the spot after excelling in the All Blacks' 36-0 whitewash of the Wallabies the following weekend, but Ioane will have the chance to make his case against Canada at Oita Stadium.
"We know that (Ioane) can also play wonderful rugby. It's important that he doesn't come out and get too caught up in the contest and that he does the small things well," Hansen said.
"Once he does that, and I'm sure he will, the pressure will come back on to the selectors to pick him."
Dual playmakers Richie Mo'unga (flyhalf) and Beauden Barrett (fullback) are among the All Blacks to retain their place from the side who started against the Springboks.
"I just wanted to give them more time together. I think it's important," Hansen said.
"They haven't had a lot of test matches together so they just need some more time. I'm not saying they're not clicking or anything like that. It's just time."
Related coverage:
Rugby: World Cup team profiles
